An examination of the Social behavior of Mentally Retarded Workers

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to delineate the content and frequency of social problems encountered by mentally retarded workers. Over 1,000 hours of observation were recorded by 18 production supervisors, 18 mentally retarded workers, and 18 employers through naturalistic observation, self-reports, and structured interviews, respectively. From these observations, 355 distinct problematic social situations were identified. These social situations primarily cluster into interpersonal problems that workers encounter with supervisors or co-workers and problematic social behavior due to disruptive or distractive behavior. The purpose of examining the social environment of mentally retarded workers is to derive socially valid content for assessment and training.