Errorless compliance training: A treatment for noncompliance in a classroom setting

Noncompliance in children constitutes a major problem for educators and is often the precursor for several other common behavior problems (e.g., aggression and tantrums). Errorless compliance training, derived from the errorless learning model, uses positive methods of behavior change and may be an ideal intervention for classroom settings. The child is likely to make fewer errors (i.e., noncompliant responses) during training, because the child begins with easier requests and progresses to more difficult requests. Therefore, the need for punitive consequences for noncompliance is eliminated. Research has not been published on the use of errorless compliance training in a classroom setting. The present study examined the effectiveness of errorless compliance training on noncompliance of four preschool-aged children in a daycare classroom setting. Two of the four children demonstrated significant gains in compliance. Results indicated that errorless compliance training may be an effective, nonpunitive method of increasing child compliance; however, further research is necessary to identify the variables that influence treatment efficacy