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Small-group training as an alternative to individual programs for profoundly retarded persons
American Journal of Mental Deficiency
|November 1, 1978
Summary
Group training programs proved as effective as individualized methods for enhancing imitative skills in profoundly intellectually disabled men. This study highlights the benefits of group settings for increasing client activity and socialization.
Area of Science:
- Intellectual Disability Research
- Behavioral Interventions
- Special Education
Background:
- Intellectual disability presents challenges in skill acquisition.
- Imitative tasks are crucial for developing functional abilities.
- Comparing training modalities is essential for optimizing interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the efficacy of group versus individualized training for imitative tasks.
- To assess the impact of different training structures on skill development.
- To evaluate the benefits of group programming for social interaction.
Main Methods:
- 12 profoundly intellectually disabled men participated.
- Three training conditions were implemented: intact-group, individual, and add-in group.
- Each condition received 20 hours of staff training time.
- Imitative tasks were used as the primary measure of skill acquisition.
Main Results:
- Group training programs demonstrated comparable effectiveness to individualized treatment.
- No significant difference in imitative skill improvement was observed between group and individual methods.
- Group programming facilitated increased client activity and socialization.
Conclusions:
- Group training is a viable and effective alternative to individual therapy for imitative skills.
- Group settings offer additional benefits, including enhanced social engagement.
- Optimizing training methods can improve outcomes for individuals with profound intellectual disability.