Social Validation of Behavioral Training Techniques: Assessing the Normalizing Qualities of Competitive Employment Training Procedures

Abstract

Employers constitute a valuable group of service consumers in competitive employment settings. This report presents data from a validation survey distributed to college and university food service employers representing nine states. The survey respondents (N = 29) were provided with a behavioral description of either a handicapped or nonhandicapped worker and asked to state their acceptance of select training procedures. A total of 68 survey items were grouped in seven procedural categories for the purpose of data analyses. Results indicated employers differentially accepted the use of some training procedures based upon worker description. Further, employers indicated certain procedures could not be used under any circumstances. These and other results are examined, and implications for service delivery are discussed.