The Efficacy of Skillstreaming Social Skills Program with Elementary School Children with High Functioning Autism
Year: 2010
Type: dissertation
Study design: Clinical Trial
Abstract: vii \nABSTRACT \nTHE EFFICACY OF SKILLSTREAMING SOCIAL SKILLS \nPROGRAM WITH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN \nWITH HIGH FUNCTIONING AUTISM \nby \n?? Lanelle S. Dowling 2010 \nMaster of Arts in Psychology: \nApplied Psychology Option \nCalifornia State University, Chico \nSpring 2010 \nThe purpose of the present study was three fold. It was first designed to investigate whether Skillstreaming the Elementary School Child social skills curriculum could be effective in the development of social behaviors in children with High Functioning Autism or Asperger???s Disorder. Second, the effects of the Skillstreaming program on this population were compared to the implementation with children with Emotional Disturbance. Lastly, this study was to examine whether social skill growth could be made by increasing the frequency of the lessons, while shortening the overall duration of the intervention (twice weekly for four weeks). The study included a treatment group of eight children with High Functioning Autism or Asperger???s Disorder \nviii \nand a control group of three students with an educational classification of Emotional Disturbance, ages ranging from 8-12 years old. \nThe results indicated that the youngest treatment group (ages 8-9) demonstrated significant improvements in social skills growth after treatment. Further, the control group as well as the youngest treatment group both demonstrated significant decreases of problem behaviors as rated by the teachers. Teacher and parent qualitative data supported significant findings in this study with consistent themes across all groups that were associated with more age appropriate conversation skills, increased peer interactions, increased awareness of nonverbal cues, cooperative play and turn-taking. This study highlights the need for more research in this area and supports longer duration of treatment as a more effective intervention.
Author: Lanelle Sylvia Dowling
Language: English
Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W767803084