The Use of an Adaptive Device to Teach Students with Moderate Mental Retardation to Select Lower Priced Grocery Items

Abstract

A constant time delay procedure was used to teach four adolescents with moderate mental retardation to select lower priced grocery items using an adaptive number line. Subjects learned to correctly compare seven different pairs of two and three digit prices and select the lower priced item. Multiple exemplars and general case programming were used to enhance skill generalization. Training was evaluated with a multi-ple probe design across subjects. Results indicate that all students reached criterion on the skill, maintained the skill with at least 90% accuracy up to 14-weeks after training, and generalized the skill from their classroom to a community grocery store with at least 97% correct responding. Students also improved their ability to compare and select the lower priced item when the comparison involved two prices with a different number of digits in each price.

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