ASSESSMENT OF TREATMENT ACCEPTABILITY - A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

This paper reviews the treatment acceptability literature starting with Kazdin’s (1977) and Wolfs (1978) earlier discussion of social validity. Treatment acceptability is defined, and the instruments used in its assessment are reviewed. The paper then discusses the research methodology (analogue or clinical) and reviews the individuals who have rated acceptability, as well as the treatments and problem behaviors that have been evaluated in the literature. Factors that may influence acceptability or produce changes in acceptability are discussed. Finally, the paper suggests how research in treatment acceptability may be extended to the field of early childhood special education. © 1990, SAGE Publications. All rights reserved.