Social Validity
Also called: social significance, consumer satisfaction
Definition
The judgment, by the people affected, of whether the goals of an intervention are important, its procedures are acceptable, and its outcomes are meaningful. It is assessed by asking clients, caregivers and others, and it matters because a technically successful program that nobody values or will keep using has not succeeded.
In plain language
Whether the people involved think the goal matters, the method is acceptable, and the result made a real difference. Their opinion counts.
Example
After a program, parents report that mealtimes are calmer and that they are happy to keep using the procedure.
Not social validity
A behavior reduced by 80 percent using a procedure the family found humiliating and stopped using. The data are good; the social validity is poor.
See also
Written from
- wolf-1978
Written from Wolf (1978). No textbook glossary consulted.
This entry has not yet been through clinical review. Treat it as a draft.