title: The development and utilization of a scale to measure adolescents' attitudes toward peers who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 4100 College of Arts and Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61790-4100, USA. arbeck@ilstu.edu
authors.forename: Ann R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Kullaya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kosuwan
authors.forename: Jessica M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Prochnow
mesh_terms: 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