Resolving Problems of Mainstreaming:

Evaluation results are reported about a program designed to train educational administrators in interpersonal problem solving with staff relative to problems of educating mainstreamed handicapped students. Results are reported for two instances of implmentation of this training program: an initial implementation and a replication condition. In each instance, four public high school principals were provided interpersonal problem solving training by means of three, four-hour sessions. Training involved use of behavioral specification of the interpersonal problem solving skills to be acquired, didactic persentations, role play exercises, performance feedback, and social reinforcement. Following both instances of program implementation, increases in interpersonal problem solving skills were observed for all administrators (trainees) in simulation and naturalistic settings. Ratings of videotapes of the trainees made by other high school principals who were unaware of the program indicated that quality of interpersonal probelm solving performance of trainees was greater following training than before training. Also, these raters indicated that the training program would be benefical to themselves and colleagues.