Comparison of operant- and independence-training procedures for mentally retarded adults

Seventy-five moderatley to profoundly retarded adults in an exit unit of a large state institution were randomly assigned to one of three groups: standard treatment, independence training, and no treatment control. Pre- and posttreatment measures, with progress being defined as an increase in the percentage of operationally defined steps completed for one behavior, were taken for all three groups on one of two types of targeted self-help behavior. A significant increase in correctly completed steps of the target behavior from pre- to posttreatment, as well as from pretreatment to follow-up assessment, was noted for the independence-training group. Independence training proved to be significantly more effective, and staff members preferred it over both standard treatment and no-treatment control at the postassessment.