An Evaluation of a Parent Training Program

Abstract

Fifteen families with conduct problem children participated in the evaluation of parent training program. Families were assigned to one of two groups after assessment and received either immediate or delayed treatment. One professor and nine graduate students in clinical psychology served as therapists. All training took place in the psychology clinic, but assessment took place both in the clinic and the home. The short term program had a significant treatment effect on a number of parent and child behaviors. Treatment group parents significantly increased their rate of reinforcement and decreased their rate of punishment. The rate of compliance for children in the treatment group improved signficantly. In most cases, these improvements generalized from the clinic to the home. The need for this validation and the usefulness of the program are discussed.