Effect of a motor-based role-play intervention on the social behaviors of adolescents with high-functioning autism: multiple-baseline single-subject design.
OBJECTIVE. We examined the effect of a motor-based role-play intervention on the social skills of adolescents with high-functioning autism. METHOD. An ABA multiple-baseline design with three 3-mo phases occurring over 12 mo was used with 7 participants. Frequency of targeted verbal and nonverbal behaviors was tallied in each phase. Frequency data were analyzed using repeated-measures analyses of variance with post hoc comparisons to examine differences in targeted behaviors over the three phases. RESULTS. Three participants completed all three study phases, 2 completed Phase 2, and 2 completed Phase 1. All participants (N = 7) demonstrated improved social skill use in Phase 1. Participants completing Phase 2 (n = 5) further improved social skill use. Additional improvements were observed among participants (n = 3) who completed Phase 3. CONCLUSION. The intervention helped participants improve targeted social skill use. Further testing with larger samples and intervention modifications is warranted.
Programs in Occupational Therapy, Columbia University, 710 West 168th Street, NI-8, New York, NY 10032, USA. sg2422@columbia.edu
Sharon A
SA
Gutman
Emily I
EI
Raphael-Greenfield
Ashwini K
AK
Rao
D000293:Adolescent; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills; D012381:Role Playing; D012919:Social Behavior; D014705:Verbal Behavior