Effects of conversational versus technical language on treatment preference and integrity.
Caregivers carry out behavior plans more faithfully when you drop the jargon and speak human.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Jarmolowicz et al. (2008) asked caregivers to carry out a behavioral treatment. Half the parents got the plan written in everyday words. The other half got the same plan loaded with ABA jargon like "contingent reinforcement" and "stimulus control."
The team then checked how closely each parent followed the steps.
What they found
Parents who read the conversational version nailed the steps more often. Parents who saw the technical version made more errors and skipped parts.
Plain language won. Jargon got in the way.
How this fits with other research
Wimpory et al. (2002) ran a similar test years earlier. They cut the reading grade level of plans down to sixth grade and also saw big gains in staff accuracy. The pattern is steady: simpler words, better fidelity.
Normand et al. (2022) seems to disagree. Their survey found that parents rated jargon and plain versions equally acceptable. The trick is in the measure: Normand asked "Do you like this plan?" while P et al. asked "Can you do this plan?" Liking and doing are not the same.
McMahon et al. (2021) asked teachers the same acceptability question and, like Normand, hinted that nontechnical language feels friendlier. Together these studies show: jargon may not hurt feelings, but it still hurts accuracy.
Why it matters
Before you send a behavior plan home, read it aloud. If you stumble, the parent will too. Swap "deliver reinforcement" for "give a high-five," and "extinction procedure" for "ignore the yelling." One quick edit can turn a paper plan into real-life progress.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Problem behaviors present a significant challenge for individuals with developmental disabilities and their caregivers. Interventions based on behavioral principles are effective in treating problem behaviors; however, some caregivers have difficulty adhering to treatment recommendations. Treatment adherence may be affected by the technical nature of behavioral terminology. Research suggests that caregivers better understand and are more comfortable with interventions described in conversational language; however, the effects of technical language on treatment implementation are unknown. In the current investigation, implementation of a behavioral treatment was monitored after caregivers were given either a technical or conversational description of the intervention. Implementation was more accurate when the treatment description was written in conversational language, suggesting that clinicians should write behavioral plans in conversational language.
Intellectual and developmental disabilities, 2008 · doi:10.1352/2008.46:190-199