ERRORLESS COMPLIANCE TO PARENTAL REQUESTS - TREATMENT EFFECTS AND GENERALIZATION

Four children with developmental disabilities were trained to follow parental instructions using an ''errorless'' compliance training approach requiring no punishment or remedial consequence. Initially, the children and their parents were observed to determine the likelihood of child compliance to a range of parental requests. Requests were then categorized into four levels, from requests associated with high probabilities of compliance (Level 1) to those associated with low probabilities (Level 4). During the first treatment phase, parents presented the children with requests from Level 1 and reinforced compliant responses. After several sessions at Level 1, parents gradually introduced Level 2 requests. Succeeding probability levels were sequentially introduced over several sessions. High compliance levels were obtained throughout treatment, even for Level 4 requests. Covariant reductions in maladaptive behavior and generalization to untrained requests were obtained. Gains were maintained up to 3 months after treatment.