Use of the partial-sequential withdrawal design to assess maintenance of mentally retarded adults' acquired meal preparation skills.

This study is presented as a follow-up to an earlier fully-controlled acquisition study in which three mentally retarded adults had acquired the ability to use sequenced picture recipe cards to prepare breakfast and dinner meals. Immediately following the acquisition demonstration, instructional components and trainers were partially-sequentially withdrawn. Reliable self-reports from the subjects and their mentally retarded roommates were established prior to trainer withdrawal. The demonstrated self-report method provided a means to assess performance following the withdrawal of trainers. Performance was maintained during a 10 month period.