Assessment of Generalization and Maintenance in a Multicomponent Parent Training Program

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of a multicomponent parent training program which emphasized the acquisition of general (as opposed to task-specific) techniques on parents' ability to generalize learned skills from an academic task school setting to a structured play home setting. Training in behavior modification skills was introduced in a multiple baseline design across subjects (parents). The results showed that the training procedures facilitated spontaneous generalization of parenting skills from the school to the home for one parent but not for a second parent. After in-home generalization training was conducted for the one parent, both parents demonstrated a maintenance of learned skills over a 12-month follow-up period. The results of the study support the need for vigorous assessment of generalization and maintenance and the identification of specific intervention procedures and parent/ family variables that may be associated with treatment outcome.