Special Education ETDs
Publication Date
7-27-1976
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to assess the effect on parent attitudes and skills when involved in a parent training intervention program for children with severe learning and behavior problems. The intervention program was designed to train the parents to maintain, change and teach appropriate behaviors to their children while providing them with the skills to extinguish inappropriate behaviors in their children.
More specifically the study attempted to answer the following four research questions:
1) Did the parents alter their attitudes toward child rearing in a positive direction as assessed on the Parent Attitude Scale (revised) after completion of training?
2) Did the parents become more proficient, in the use of behavior modification techniques using the discrete trial model as assessed by monthly observations by the school psychologist?
3) Were the parents able to teach their children new behaviors at home using the behavior modification techniques learned at school (Question 2) as measured by the parents' ability to pinpoint, record and reinforce appropriate behaviors?
b) Did the parents' ability to assess their children's behavior on the Behavior Evaluation Table (revised) become more congruent with the teacher's assessment of their children after completion of' the training program?
The parents were trained in a five-phase program where the responsi1bility for teaching the child gradually shifted from teacher to parent. The discrete trial model was utilized as a training/teaching tool
Each parent filled out the Parent Attitude Scale (revised) pre and post intervention to assess their change in attitudes toward child rearing. The school psychologist evaluated the parents monthly on a psychologist data sheet to assess their ability in the use of behavior modification techniques using the discrete trial model. Each parent took data five times a week on a target behavior chosen by both teacher and parent. A reliability check was taken weekly to assess the parent's ability to measure the behavior and reinforce it appropriately. Each parent and teacher filled out, a Behavior Evaluation Table (revised) monthly on the child to assess the skill of the parent to more accurately judge the ability of the child as measured by degree of agreement between teacher and parent.
The project classroom began on January 27, 1976. This study evaluates the program from its beginning until June 1, 1976.
Research question 1 was not supported by the results of the program. All three subjects scored higher on the Parent Attitude Scale whi1ch indicated a more dominant, ignoring and possessive attitude. This result may be due to the techniques used in the intervention program.
Research question 2 was supported by the results of the program. All three parents became more proficient in the use of behavior modification as assessed by monthly observations by the school psychologist.
Research question 3 was supported by the results of the program. Each parent taught her child at least two new skills and was able to successfully use the behavior modification techniques learned at school during the home program.
Research question 4 was supported by the results of the program. Parents were in closer agreement with the teacher assessment of their child's ability as measured by the Behavior Evaluation Table (revised) after completion of the training program.
Document Type
Thesis
Language
English
Degree Name
Special Education
Level of Degree
Masters
Department Name
Special Education
First Committee Member (Chair)
Roger Lee Kroth
Second Committee Member
Eloy R. Gonzales
Third Committee Member
Henry James Pepe
Recommended Citation
Golnick, Mindi. "Parent Intervention Program for Children With Severe Learning and Behavior Problems." (1976). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/educ_spcd_etds/113
Comments
The UNMUL recognizes that due to its historical nature, this item may include concepts or language that may be biased, harmful, and insensitive surrounding disability.