Where Are the Generalized Outcomes? (An Examination of Instructional Objectives)

It is argued that behavioral objectives will be most useful when they are not only technologically adequate and include functional target behaviors, but when generalization is explicitly specified as a desired educational outcome as well. This investigation was undertaken to determine whether IEP objectives for selected pupils in participating schools included generalization as an outcome of instruction. It was found that although a considerable number of objectives related to the development of potentially functional skills, very few suggested the desirability of generalized performance. Possible reasons for the omission of generalized outcomes are discussed and recommendations are provided for the construction of objectives.