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Behavioural assessment of disturbed, institutionalized retardates
Summary
This study addresses the need for effective behavioral assessment tools for institutionalized individuals with intellectual disabilities and disturbed behaviors. It proposes using two scales to evaluate both normal and maladaptive behaviors in residential treatment settings.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Behavioral assessment is widely used in education and treatment but lacks specific programs for institutionalized individuals with intellectual disabilities and disturbed behaviors.
- Existing behavioral assessment methods often focus on single variables, which is insufficient for the complex needs of this population in residential settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the need for developing appropriate behavioral assessment procedures for institutionalized individuals with intellectual disabilities and disturbed behaviors.
- To propose an omnibus approach for behavioral assessment in residential treatment centers.
- To introduce the use of two specific scales for sampling normal and maladaptive behaviors in this population.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on behavioral assessment and its application in various settings.
- Analysis of the limitations of existing behavioral scales for individuals with intellectual disabilities and disturbed behaviors.
- Proposal of a two-scale assessment strategy to capture a broader range of behaviors.
Main Results:
- A significant gap exists in reliable and comprehensive behavioral assessment tools for institutionalized individuals with intellectual disabilities and disturbed behaviors.
- Current assessment methods are often too narrow for the initial evaluation in residential treatment centers.
- The proposed two-scale approach aims to provide a more adequate assessment of both adaptive and maladaptive behaviors.
Conclusions:
- There is a critical need for specialized behavioral assessment programs for institutionalized individuals with intellectual disabilities and disturbed behaviors.
- An omnibus assessment approach is recommended for residential treatment centers.
- The implementation of two specific scales is suggested as an initial step to address the assessment needs of this population.
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