The selection of an instructional format is a complex process. Making the selection requires examining not only performance technology but also the technology of survival. Several possible factors to consider are examined, including the political and fiscal considerations. (CT)

Discusses new evaluation procedures developed for the Gregg Office Job Training Program. In part 1, the student is evaluated and graded on performance of a specific job. In part 2, the student is graded on 10 areas of job performance, and in part 3, the student writes a brief job description. (CT)

The study examined the relationship between performance of 19 severely handicapped students under training conditions and under each of two types of probe conditions: (1) multiple opportunity (the student is given an opportunity to perform every step in a task analysis); and (2) single opportunity (the student is not given the opportunity to…

This study of four moderately to severely aphasic subjects found that success in manual sign training programs is related to severity of aphasia, that aphasic subjects' propositional use of manual signs rarely follows simple acquisition, and that generalization to untrained stimuli or environments does not occur without additional training.…

The performance of four direct service providers in feeding, positioning, and transferring physically disabled patients was measured. Use of written instructions led to slight and usually brief changes in performance. The introduction of feedback, especially a continuous schedule, resulted in marked improvements which were maintained. (Author/JDD)

Training in human relations will help managers improve productivity of employees, according to the author, who reviews numerous suggestions and plans for improving production and then proposes several techniques for trainers to use in training supervisors and managers. (MF)

Stating that management training programs usually contribute little to organization results because they focus on improving personal characteristics, the authors describe a training and development strategy and training design to produce performance-improvement results. Programs using this strategy are described. (MF)

This study compared use of trainer demonstrations and use of visual cues across varying difficulties of task, by 20 mentally retarded secondary-aged students. Results found that photographs and line drawings were more effective with mildly/moderately retarded students than demonstrations when working with complex tasks. No differences were found…

Examined were the effects of reversing the color of stimulus materials used to teach survival vocabulary to 16 spastic cerebral palsied and 16 other multihandicapped adolescents with mental retardation. Compared to black-on-white cards, white-on-black cards improved the acquisition performance of both groups, but did not affect retention.…

This study found that, in a task context, differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO) effectively reduced problem behavior and increased task performance of 2 adolescents with severe disabilities (ages 15 and 19), whereas a time-out procedure was ineffective. In a leisure context, time-out was effective while DRO was ineffective.…

Children with mental retardation are particularly prone to failure on relational tasks such as oddity and match-to-sample, suggesting a differential sensitivity to relational information. This paper reports on several studies in which characteristics of stimulus arrays were enhanced. Results demonstrated the theoretical and practical significance…

The study examined the relationship between probe and training conditions on performance of nine severely handicapped students on functional tasks in classroom and community settings. Findings led to the following recommendations to teachers: measures of student performance under natural or probe conditions should be evaluated in addition to…

The long-term employment of 51 moderately mentally retarded clients who were placed into 64 supported employment positions was evaluated relative to 10 training and post-training components in a supported employment training package. Three components differentiated successful from unsuccessful employment: client advocate, collateral behavior, and…

Consistent with educational reform efforts, the Quality Performance Assessment (QPA) Process Module was designed to disseminate information about the QPA Process, and to be a training vehicle so that members of the Kansas State Board of Education Outcomes Education Team and the Kansas education community might have the knowledge base necessary to…

This workbook explains the process of using the goal-based learning (GBL) approach to accelerating performance change to design an education or training program. The first half of the workbook, which focuses on the nature and benefits of GBL, discusses the following topics: shifting the focus of education; differences between lecture-based and…