Sensori-Motor and Activity Method of Instruction for Toilet Training the Trainable Mentally Retarded Children

Abstract

Toilet training is a necessity for all categories of children including the trainable mentally retarded children. The basic operant strategy employed in training toilet skills is behaviour shaping, or the method of successful approximation. The writer of this paper has employed two different techniques to toilet train the trainable mentally retarded children. Eighteen subjects have been used for this experimental research. Of this number, 6 subjects were assigned to each of the sensori-motor approach, the activity method of instruction, and the control groups respectively. Both the experimental and the control groups were pre-tested, using toilet training skill programme. The experimental groups were treated therapeutically for 4 weeks. The control group was excluded. Later the experimental and the control groups were post-tested, using the same test as for the pre- test. The raw scores of the experimental and the control groups were computed and compared using descriptive statistics and analysis of covariance. The results of the means are as follows: Sensori Motor Approach = 65.35 activity method of instruction = 55.59, the control group = 41.42. This study revealed that some techniques can be used to toilet train the normal children and those with deficit behaviours.


(Nigerian Journal of Clinical and Counselling Psychology: 2001 7 (1&2): 113-125)