Enhancing frequency recording by developmental disabilities treatment staff

Abstract

We evaluated a staff training and management package for increasing accuracy of recording frequency of problem behavior in a residential care facility. A multiple baseline design across the first and second work shifts showed that 2 of 8 participants increased their accuracy following in-service training, and all 8 improved during a condition with supervisor presence and feedback. Improvements were maintained when feedback was removed and generalized to activity periods when neither supervisor presence nor feedback was provided. Other staff behavior was not adversely affected by the intervention package.

Figure 1. The top two graphs depict percentage of target problem behaviors recorded by direct-care instructors for Groups 1 and 2 across first and second shifts in primary observations.

Data points represent sessions in which target problem behaviors occurred. The bottom graph depicts performance in generalization sessions; the numbers on top of each bar indicate the number of sessions in which target problem behaviors occurred.