Effects of In vivo versus Simulation-Plus-In vivo training on the acquisition and generalization of grocery item selection by high school students with severe handicaps

• Published in: Analysis and intervention in developmental disabilities 1985, Vol.5 (4), p.323-343
• Main Authors: McDonnell, John J., Horner, Robert H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0270-4684
• DOI: 10.1016/0270-4684(85)90003-5

In the present study, high school students with moderate and severe retardation were trained to locate 15 grocery items through Isolated In vivo training and Simulation-Plus-In vivo training. Isolated in vivo training consisted of daily instruction in locating 15 target items in a single store located near the subjects' school. Simulation plus in vivo training included training with slides of grocery store aisles and shelves in the classroom plus training in a single store located near the students' school. Generalized responding was assessed through a multiple-baseline design across subjects in three novel grocery stores and validated in a store frequented by the students' families. Results indicate that generalization was more likely when the range of stimulus variation in training examples was expanded via in-class simulations. The results are discussed in terms of procedures for teaching generalized skills and guidelines that can be used by teachers for developing effective classroom-based simulations.