Behavioral staff management in institutions: A critical review of effectiveness and acceptability

Abstract

Abstract Managing the work performance of institutional direct care staff has been a serious concern among researchers in applied behavior analysis and developmental disabilities. This paper reviews the research on behavioral staff management strategies with a focus on procedural effectiveness and acceptability. Four categories of management programs are discussed; antecedent, contingency management, self-control, and multi- faceted interventions. Generally, antecedent approaches appear to be the least successful in improving staff performance whereas contingency management, particularly performance feedback systems, and multi-faceted programs appear to be the most successful. However, a number of methodological problems have plagued the staff management research, including probable reactivity of the typical performance monitoring systems used in the investigations, minimal external validation regarding the effectiveness of specific management strategies, lack of data on the longterm and generalized effects of behavioral interventions, and insufficient attention given to the acceptability of the procedures as well as the social validity of effects of various programs. In addition to remedying methodological deficiencies as just noted, future research needs are discussed in respect to the development of procedures that affect more comprehensive areas of staff responsibilities, evaluations of punishment strategies commonly used by supervisors, and analyses of the day-to-day contigencies that affect attendant performance in the usual institutional work environment.