Date of Award

6-1-1980

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Dr. Karen B. Maloney

Second Advisor

Dr. Dean L. Fixsen

Third Advisor

Dr. Shelton E. Hendricks

Fourth Advisor

Dr. Michael S. Katz

Abstract

In 1975 and 1976, a training program for consultants to residential child care workers was developed at Boys Town, Nebraska. A study was conducted to analyze the training program's effectiveness in teaching Boys Town consultants the skills needed to initiate relationships, to conduct direct observation visits, and to give feedback and advice to child care workers. Two groups of consultants received one week of training in July and November, 1976, and a third group did not receive training. Pre and post training data were collected in the form of appropriate and inappropriate consulting behaviors engaged in during videotaped behavior simulations. The data were analyzed using a multiple baseline design across the three groups of subjects. Increases in appropriate behavior and decreases in inappropriate behavior were shown following training in each consultant skill area. Scores for the untrained group remained low and showed little change across baseline assessments. These results suggest that the training program is an effective way to teach skills to consultants in a short period of time.

Comments

A Thesis Presented to the Department of Psychology and the Faculty of the Graduate College University of Nebraska In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts University of Nebraska at Omaha. Copyright David A. Smart June, 1980

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