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Can Computers Teach Social Skills to Children? Examining the Efficacy of “The Social Express” in an African-American Sample

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Abstract

This study examined the efficacy of a computer-based social skills training program, The Social Express. Independent researchers evaluated the program at both a school-wide level (Tier 1) and at a referred group level (Tier 2). The sample included third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade students in a Title 1 public school with a 100% African-American population. At the Tier 1 level, pre-post (immediate) comparisons on a social skills rating scale indicated statistically significant differences by group at the α = .10 level (p = 0.058). A significant Tier 1 quadratic effect for time (pre-test, post-test (immediate), post-test [delayed]) was found (p = 0.029) as well. At the Tier 2 level, pre-post comparisons indicated no statistically significant group improvement. Pre-post comparisons at the individual level found that about 39% of the children had statistically significant improvement in social skills, with 9% indicating a decrease in problem behaviors.

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Funding

This study was funded by a material grant from The Social Express. The grant consisted of the option to use (free of charge) the software program in one, Title-1 elementary school for 2 years. No funds were provided. No requirements were placed on the researchers other than the software be used as part of a research project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Educational Psychology and Learning Systems, Florida State University, 1114 West Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA

    S. Kathleen Krach & Dasha M. Highsmith

  2. Department of Teaching and Learning, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, USA

    Michael P. McCreery

  3. Department of Psychology, Troy University, Montgomery, AL, USA

    Kanessa Miller Doss

Authors
  1. S. Kathleen Krach
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  2. Michael P. McCreery
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  3. Kanessa Miller Doss
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  4. Dasha M. Highsmith
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. Kathleen Krach.

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Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Research Involving Human Participants and/or Animals

IRB approval was granted for both Troy University and Florida State University for this project.

Informed Consent

All children had access to the software programs. Parents provided written informed consent for researchers to be able to use their child’s/children’s data in this study.

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Krach, S.K., McCreery, M.P., Doss, K.M. et al. Can Computers Teach Social Skills to Children? Examining the Efficacy of “The Social Express” in an African-American Sample. Contemp School Psychol 25, 321–331 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40688-019-00270-z

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