Evaluation of staff management strategies to increase positive interactions in a vocational setting

The purpose of this study was to determine the minimal components of a self‐management program necessary to increase positive interactions among staff and clients working in a vocational setting. Three interventions were implemented, as needed, in an additive fashion including: Instruction and Goal Setting, Self‐management, and Feedback. Instruction and Goal Setting did not increase staff positive interactions to a criterion level of 30% of intervals. However, during the self‐management phase, all staff increased their positive interactions with clients, but two staff required feedback to maintain their positive interactions at the criterion level. Measures of generalization, compliance, and acceptability showed that increases in positive interactions occurred outside the assessment sessions; staff were consistently employing the procedures; and staff found all procedures to be acceptable.