The Efficacy of Self-Control Procedures as Motivational Strategies with Mentally Retarded Persons: A Review of the Literature and Guidelines for Future Research

Abstract

A review of the literature was conducted to ascertain the effectiveness of self-recording, self-management and self-instructional procedures as motivational strategies with mentally retarded persons. Studies were classified on the basis of which of the aforementioned procedures they used and whether they addressed themselves to clinical or applied problems or more artificial laboratory-type tasks. Research findings were discussed with regard to methodological considerations such as adequacy of design, control and follow-ups.

It was concluded that while self-control strategies have shown clear-cut efficacy in some studies, the majority show a number of deficiencies. They include:

1. use of a procedure as part of a package, preventing assessment of its effects as an independent variable:

2. methodological problems; and

3. lack of procedural or descriptive information concerning the target populations.

In summary. while self-control techniques offer many advantages over external control techniques, more and better designed research is required to demonstrate convincingly their efficacy with a retarded population.