SOCIAL VALIDITY AND TREATMENT INTEGRITY DATA - REPORTING IN ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN THE OURNAL-OF-DEVELOPMENTAL-AND-PHYSICAL-DISABILITIES, 1991-1995

In general, social validity data reflect the social significance of ta rget behaviors, the appropriateness of procedures, and the perceived i mportance of results. Intervention integrity data provide evidence tha t treatments are implemented in the intended fashion. The present pape r discusses social validity and intervention integrity data and consid ers their possible importance. It also reports how often such data wer e reported in treatment articles published in the Journal of Developme ntal and Physical Disabilities from 1991 through 1995. Social validity data were presented in 5 of 39 treatment articles (13%). Intervention integrity data were presented in 9 of 39 articles (23%). When social validity data were presented, reliability and validity of the measures were never-discussed. Although if is not necessary to assess social v alidity or intervention integrity to conduct a quality study, or to pu blish such a study in the Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabi lities, doing so is in many cases relatively easy, and may help reader s to evaluate the scientific and practical importance of reported find ings.