Rvachew & Nowak (Response)
Rvachew, S. & Nowak, M. (2003). Clinical outcomes as a function of target selection strategy: A response to Morrisette and Gierut. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 46, 386-390. Retrieved March 17, 2008, from ASHA Journals (http://journals.asha.org) .
TAP
The topic of this article was the effect of target-selection on phonological learning and progress. The article reviewed a previous study and expanded on the results that the treatment of early developing sounds and sounds with the most knowledge results in greater progress. This article is intended for students and speech language pathologists. Specifically, those working with children who have a phonological disorder. The purpose of this particular article is to refute the claims made by Morrisette and Gierut (2003) by showing that the traditional target selection strategy resulted in superior outcomes, in comparison to the nondevelopmental strategy.
Claim(s)
The authors made the following claims:
1. Treating sounds that are early developing and most knowledge results in the most change.
2. The change occurred in treated and untreated words and word positions, indicating generalization to nontreated contexts.
3. The results of the authors’ study cannot be taken as support for the conculsion that a nondevelopmental target selection approach facilitates system-wide changes.
4. Further research is require to determine the best means of promoting generalization.
5. Further research must employ research designs that include controls for maturation and participant effects.
Evidence
The authors referred to their previous article and study and to the article and study of Morrisette and Gierut (2003) to support the authors claims and to refute the claims of Morrisette and Gierut. Other sources were referred to such as the text by Creaghead, Newman, and Secord (1989), and other articles by Gierut and Morrisette.
Connections
Text-to-Self: This article, along with the initial article by Rvachew and Nowak and the response by Morrisette and Gierut, confuse me because each set of authors make contradicting claims but each has evidence to support their claims. Which approach, developmental sequence or the nondevelopmental sequence, is really the best for target selection and generalization?
Text-to-text: This article connected to the initial article written by Rvachew and Nowak and the response letter written by Morrisette and Gierut (2003). This article also connects with other articles regarding phonological treatment because target selection and generalization was discussed in many articles I’ve read for the course reading list and during my research for my treatment position paper.
Text-to-world: This article is relevant to clinical treatment because speech language pathologists want to elicit the most change possible during phonological treatment. This article provides information and resources that can be used for the selection of treatment targets.
