An Instructional Approach to Training Severely and Profoundly Retarded Persons in Vocational Settings. Final Report, 1982-83 [microform]

A study tested the feasibility of a task-analytical instructional approach to developing vocational skills for severely and profoundly retarded individuals. During the study, each of 43 severely and profoundly retarded individuals received twelve 15-minute individual training sessions on each of four selected vocational tasks (the Stromberg Dexterity Test, the Bennett Hand Tool Test, the VIEWS Screen Assembly, and the VIEWS Faucet Assembly). During each training session, subjects were guided through a series of analytically task-defined steps necessary for the successful completion of the task, and the trainer recorded the type of prompt that was required to gain successful performance. Analysis of the degree of independence achieved for the completed steps in each training task provided clear and consistent evidence of the effectiveness of the training. Pretest and posttest analyses also indicated improvements in overall fine motor skills as a result of training. The results of the study were interpreted as providing clear evidence of the utility of systematic training for remediating perceptual and motor defecits in severely and profoundly retarded adults. (MN)