The Social Validation of Community Vocational Training in Technological Work Settings

Abstract

Two social validation studies were conducted to assess the vocational gains of high school students who are disabled over a five-month training period. In Study I the vocational skills of three students and one control student were evaluated on specific work tasks. The students were videotaped before they received training on the tasks and then again at the end of the training period. The videotape segments were shown to special education teachers and university business students. The experimental students performed significantly better (p < .001) than the control student at posttest. In Study 2 three experimental students were videotaped performing specific work tasks, breaktime skills, and getting ready for work skills. The pretest and posttest videotape vignettes were shown to the same type of respondent group. Again, there was a significant (p <.001 and p < .025) difference from pretest to posttest across all three types of work behaviors. The results were discussed in terms of the transition of youth into competitive employment.