The development and utilization of a scale to measure adolescents' attitudes toward peers who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices.
OBJECTIVE
Study 1 developed the Assessment of Attitudes Toward Augmentative and Alternative Communication-2 (AATAAC-2) to assess adolescents' attitudes toward peers who use AAC. Study 2 used the AATAAC-2 to examine influences of familiarity with people with disabilities; type of AAC device; and various combinations of gender of rater, AAC user, and communication partner on adolescents' attitudes.


METHODS
In Study 1, 194 adolescents viewed videotapes depicting adolescents using AAC, then completed AATAAC-2. Study 2 utilized 8 videotapes depicting 4 different gender combinations of AAC user and communication partner as experimental stimuli. Each gender combination was filmed twice: once with a static touch screen device, and once with a dynamic touch screen device. One-hundred thirty-six adolescents were randomly assigned to view 1 of the 8 videos. Participants then completed AATAAC-2.


RESULTS
Study 1 demonstrated that AATAAC-2 has adequate psychometric properties. Raters' responses in Study 2 indicated no main effect of device type; girls were more positive than boys; and familiarity with peers with disabilities was associated with more positive attitudes. No 2-way interactions were significant; 3-way interaction of level of familiarity, gender, and type of device used was significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Familiarity and gender contribute to adolescents' attitudes; type of AAC device combined with these factors to influence attitudes.
Beck
Ann R
AR
4100 College of Arts and Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61790-4100, USA. arbeck@ilstu.edu
Thompson
James R
JR
Kosuwan
Kullaya
K
Prochnow
Jessica M
JM
D000293:Adolescent; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003143:Communication Devices for People with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D011594:Psychometrics; D021641:Recognition, Psychology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014741:Video Recording