Acquisition and Generalization of Social Behaviors in Language-Disabled Deaf Children

In the present study, the effectiveness of a multifaceted training package on the acquisition and generalization of three social behaviors—initiating interaction, interacting with others, and turn waiting—was assessed with nine 12- and 13-year-old language-disabled deaf children. The package included (1) child training and (2) supervision, feedback, and goal-setting by teachers and residential staff members. Steps were taken to promote generality of the effects and the social validity of the procedures. Data were collected within a multiple baseline design across behaviors. Visual inspection and statistical analysis showed that instances of appropriate target behaviors increased and were generalized across settings, activities, and subjects during the training procedure and that the effects were maintained following training.