Reducing problem behaviors in a residential unit using structural analysis and staff management procedures: A preliminary study
✍ Scribed by James W. Bodfish; Edward A. Konarski
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 1992
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 598 KB
- Volume
- 7
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 1072-0847
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
A structural analysis of the problem behaviors of 32 adults with mental retardation living together in a residential facility showed that a disproportionate number of these behaviors were associated with a period of time scheduled for leisure activities. A staff management program was implemented during this time which included activity and staff scheduling, staff inservice training, and staff performance monitoring and feedback. The results showed an 83% decrease in problem behaviors when the program was implemented during the leisure period and no decrease in problem behaviors during adjacent time periods where the program was not utilized. Follow-up assessments indicated maintenance of these decreased levels of behavior at 3 and 6 months. It was concluded that this approach of combining a structural analysis with staff management procedures was effective in reducing a high level of problem behavior in a residential setting. The results are discussed with regard to pragmatic strategies for the pretreatment analysis of problem behaviors in residential settings, and the role of organizational behavior management techniques in habilitative programing for individuals with behavior disorders.
The problem behaviors commonly exhibited by individuals with mental retardation who reside in large congregate care settings present a formidable barrier to their personal development and to their potential movement to less restrictive environments. Problem behaviors in this population are typically addressed through the development and implementation of intensive behavioral treatments applied at the individual level. While typically effective, the implementation of individualized behavior change programs can involve considerable responsecost, and for this reason consistent implementation can be difficult to maintain.