A scalogram analysis of behavioral strategies in severely and profoundly retarded adults

The present study was designed to provide empirical evidence for an assumed order sequence of five behavioral strategies in 75 severely and profoundly retarded adults. A behavioral strategy was defined as a set of task-related behaviors each of which is controlled by the same stimulus properties of the materials. Four sets of tasks were used to measure four of the five strategies. Multiple presentation modes were employed to enhance the Ss' understanding of the demand characteristics of the tasks. A scalogram analysis revealed that the four sets of items met the requirements for a cumulative scale. Additional analyses were performed to identify individual items measuring a specific behavioral strategy. The obtained results indicated that most items measured one strategy although not always the one for which they were designed. The additional value of the described classification system over other, more traditional measures, is discussed.