Acquisition and Generalization of Shopping Skills by a Student with Developmetal Disabilities : Analysis of In Vivo and Simulation Training

Abstract

This study evaluated procedures for teaching shopping skills to a 14-year-old student with developmental disabilities. A general case analysis was conducted to identify the full range of stimulus variations and response requirements the student would encounter while shop-ping in the community. The student was first trained in vivo to purchase three items at a supermarket. Next, the student received a package of in vivo and simulation training. After the package training, the student's error rate during shopping decreased. Shopping skills were generalized to four novel supermarkets and one supermarket in community environment. Results indicated that a package of in vivo and simulation training contributed significantly to the acquisition and generalization of shopping skills.