ABSTRACT
This study assessed the acceptability of six child management interventions as rated by 20 mothers of children actually referred for treatment of a disruptive behavior disorder. Positive reinforcement, response cost, differential attention, time-out, overcorrection, and spanking were evaluated using the Treatment Evaluation Inventory-Short Form. Positive reinforcement was rated as a more acceptable treatment technique than response cost, time-out, differential attention, overcorrection, and spanking. Spanking was less acceptable to the mothers than the other techniques. These results validate those from studies using undergraduates and non-referred parents in suggesting that parents of disruptive children seeking treatment evaluate a treatment approach that focuses on increasing acceptable behaviors most highly and an approach that focuses on decreasing negative behavior least favorably.