Parents' Acceptance of Behavioral Interventions for Children with Behavior and Communication Problems

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the study was to examine what parents find as acceptable treatment options for children with behavior problems in a communication disorders population. Parents' acceptability of seven treatment options, including positive reinforcement, time-out, response cost, spanking, overcorrection, differential attention, and medication were assessed using hypothetical vignettes. Contrary to previous research which has consistently found positive reinforcement to be the most accepted treatment overall, the results indicate that response cost was the most accepted treatment for this parent population. Additionally, the results indicate that the co-existence of other clinical problems might influence the acceptability ratings of different treatment options. The implications of these findings are discussed and direction for future research is offered.

KEYWORDS:

• Social validity
• treatment acceptability
• behavior problems
• communication problems