The effectiveness of a training program in conversational skills was evaluated with seven community-dwelling mildly and moderately mentally retarded adults. Training sessions consisted of instructions, modeling, and behavioral rehearsal. Substantial improvements in targeted behaviors in generalization settings was found after treatment and…

The article lists skills to be taught, then describes the psychoeducational training procedures, management problems, and research evaluation results of the structured learning approach for teaching social competencies to aggressive, withdrawn, immature, or developmentally lagging preadolescents and adolescents. Effectiveness reported includes…

The purpose of this study was to test the effectiveness of social skills training for improving the social behaviors of a 17-year-old deaf female. The results suggests that social skills training is a viable behavioral intervention with deaf students. (BW)

Studied the effects of conversation skills training for two retarded and one learning disabled participant in a sheltered workshop. Results indicated that participants improved their use of targeted conversational skills over the course of training, but had difficulty generalizing target behaviors to other individuals. (JAC)

Discusses the need for better integration of theory and measurement in the design and evaluation of marital communication skills training programs. Recommendations are presented for the use of self-report measures of marital communication and the evaluation of the family theory used in program design. (Author/JAC)

Fourth-grade students were randomly assigned to either a treatment or a Hawthorne control group. The treatment consisted of participation in the Toward Affective Development Program. No treatment effects were noted, regardless of sex or class membership. (Author)

A study examining the effectiveness of wilderness therapy programs for rehabilitating delinquent adolescents analyzed 23 programs using meta-analysis. Moderate effect sizes in favor of wilderness therapy programs were found with respect to enhancing self-esteem/self-concept, improving interpersonal skills, and promoting behavior changes. A small…

Administered pre- and postmeasures to 12 participants in 8-session group intervention program designed to teach coping skills to recently separated and divorced adults and to 12 waiting-list controls. Results indicated that intervention promoted reduced depression and anxiety, greater ability to live in present, greater independence, more…

The paper argues that behavioral research with children might have more impact if experimenters paid more attention to assessment of long term maintenance effects, dissemination, and social validity of behavioral programs. Selected illustrative studies from the child behavior modification literature are reviewed and suggestions offered. (DB)

Reviews seven empirical studies that evaluate maintenance and generalization of effects of commercially available social skills training programs. Found that explicit attempts to foster generalization met with at least mixed success in six of seven studies. Concludes that combination of social skills training and alteration of consequences in…

Responds to article by DuPaul and Eckert on generalization and maintenance of behavior change resulting from packaged social skills training programs. Argues that DuPaul and Eckert focused their attention on generalization and ignored more immediate issue--that participation in these programs failed to produce meaningful change in social behavior.…

Responds to article by DuPaul and Eckert on generalization and maintenance of behavior change resulting from packaged social skills training programs. Agrees with DuPaul and Eckert and focuses commentary on identification and discussion of issues raised by suggestions to reprogram school environments to promote and change social behavior. (NB)

Responds to article by DuPaul and Eckert on generalization and maintenance of behavior change resulting from packaged social skills training programs. Discusses failure to obtain generalization from two perspectives: topographical generalization and functional generalization. Suggests that generalization programming based on functional analysis…

A study investigated the effectiveness of a school-based prevention program consisting of social skills activities, peer tutoring, and individual and class-wide behavioral management components for improving the behaviors of 38 students (ages 5-11) with emotional disturbances. Results indicated that inappropriate behaviors decreased and positive…