title: Toward a technology of generalization: how many exemplars are sufficient?
abstract: This descriptive study examined the number of minimal-word-pair exemplars necessary for 19 phonologically impaired children to meet a generalization criterion. For 59% of the test cases, three exemplars were sufficient for generalization to occur. Five exemplars were sufficient in 21% of the test cases, and it was necessary to teach 10 different exemplars in 14% of the test cases. In 7% of the test cases, generalization did not occur despite treatment on 10 exemplars. Although generalization usually occurred following treatment using a small number of exemplars, there was substantial variability across individual subjects. There was no apparent relationship between specific sounds and the likelihood of generalization; however, the data from some children suggested that treatment on one sound enhances learning of subsequent sounds. The theoretical and clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Indiana University, Bloomington.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elbert
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Swartzlander
mesh_terms: D001184:Articulation Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005793:Generalization, Psychological; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010699:Phonation; D013068:Speech Production Measurement; D013070:Speech Therapy / Q000379:methods*