Judgment of the Social Validity of Instructional Strategies Used in Community-Based Instructional Sites

Abstract

This study examined differences in attitude toward the social acceptability of training techniques commonly used in community-based sites (skill acquisition, reduction of inappropriate behaviors, and data collection techniques). The subjects (N = 178) in this investigation were volunteers and members of one of the following four groups: sheltered workshop staff, job coach staff, fast food restaurant staff, and business students. These groups of respondents represented individuals with a current or future involvement with persons having severe disabilities in community sites. Respondents were asked to complete the Survey of Community-based Training Procedures (SCTP) scale, which measured attitudes toward the social acceptability of antecedent, consequence, and data collection techniques. Results of the study indicated that groups of respondents differentially rated the social acceptability of training techniques. Factors affecting ratings of social acceptability are discussed and implications for future research delineated.