Comparing Natural and Artificial Environments in Training Self-Care Skills to Group Home Residents

Abstract

Ten severely and profoundly handicapped group home residents were baselined and then matched and paired on Project MORE's skills of deodorant use, toothbrushing, and handwashing to determine the effects of training in natural and artificial environments on skill acquisition, maintenance, and generalization. All residents had been institutionalized for more than four years prior to participating in the study. Houseparents in two group homes were the trainers. Results indicated that participants who received training in the natural environment and at times when they would normally practice the skills acquired skills more readily than did those who received training in the artifical environment and at times when they would not normally practice the skills. No significant effects were noted on maintenance and generalization of skills for either group.