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Generalisation & Maintenance

Behavioural Interventions are highly useful for disability groups and probably one of the less well-propagated interventions in the field of psychology locally. They involve the processes of systematically assessing the functions of various behaviours and using a variety of strategies based on behavioural principles to produce specific improvements in behaviour. They are useful in different types of therapeutic interventions, and especially useful for working with individuals who are unable to express themselves in words.

The fifth competency unit that will help you succeed in doing behavioural interventions is Generalisation & Maintenance.

Generalisation and maintenance are crucial components of any (behavioural) intervention. This unit covers how psychologists could ensure that the behaviour learnt can be exhibited in other settings and/or can last even after the intervention. In this unit, psychologists are expected to:

• Identify the importance of generalisation and maintenance in interventions

• Devise and implement strategies and plans to programme for generalisation

• Devise and implement strategies and plans to programme for non-generalisation through discrimination

• Devise and implement strategies and plans to programme for maintenance

• Manage obstacles to generalization and to maintenance

Here are some ideas and resources to spark your learning and thinking: 

Generalisation and Maintenance of Behaviour Change

Cooper, Heron, & Heward (2007) – Chapter 28 on Generalization and Maintenance of Behavior Change

Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., &  Heward, W. L. (2007) Applied behavior analysis /Upper Saddle River, N.J. : Pearson/Merrill-Prentice Hall.  See more here.

This chapter gives detailed information about the generalisation and maintenance of  behaviour change. The chapter covers topics on:

• Different types of generalisation

• How to plan for generalisation of behaviour change

• How to ensure the maintenance of behaviour change

• How to probe for generalisation and maintenance of behaviour

This is a PowerPoint version of the key points from the chapter.

Promoting the Generalization and Maintenance of Newly-Learnt Behaviors

Heward, W. L.’s PDF slides “Promoting the Generalization and Maintenance of Newly-Learnt Behaviors”

This resource comprise of 130 pages developed and presented by one of the 3 authors of the book. It is highly recommended. Authored by William L. Heward, presented at a conference in 2016. This resource contains many real life examples.

“Generalization” from Let’s Learn ABA

This is a quick coverage on the key definitions in generalization and maintenance. This resource serves as a good overview and revision but may be insufficient in terms of depth and coverage.

The following are optional learning activities:

• This website may help you gain clarity on some key terms

• Quizlet: Match the definitions to the key words for practising programming of generalization and maintenance on this website.  Note: Not all terms are essential to generalisation and maintenance.

Generalisation: “ABA Autism Training - Chapter 4 – Generalization”

This short video shows the types of generalisation we would carry out and shows how the therapist does it. The concepts are presented clearly and this is easy to understand.

Or explore other competency units that will help you succeed in doing behavioural interventions:

• a) Behavioural Assessments

• b) Antecedent Based Interventions

• c) Replacement Behaviours

• d) Promoting Behaviours