Abstract
Many students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) struggle to appropriately interact and play with their peers at recess. In this pilot feasibility study, we tested the efficacy of practitioner-implemented, peer-mediated Pivotal Response Training (PRT) with 11 elementary and middle school students with ASD. Participants were randomly assigned to a treatment or control group. We measured outcomes at multiple time points, and analyzed data using multi-level modeling with time nested within student. We demonstrated large and statistically significant increases in peer interaction (d = 1.13). Appropriate play with peers also increased substantially (d = 0.89). Practitioners and students provided positive feedback. These findings suggest school staff can feasibly facilitate peer-implemented PRT that improves social outcomes for students with ASD at recess.
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Funding
This research was made possible in part through the Strickland Research Professional Development Fund, a gift to the Ohio State University Department of Educational Studies to support research in the area of teacher and administrator professional development.
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MEB conceived of the study, designed the study, conducted the analysis, and drafted the manuscript; SAD coordinated implementation of study procedures, collected data, and helped to draft the manuscript; MAB collected data and helped to draft the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.
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Brock, M.E., Dueker, S.A. & Barczak, M.A. Brief Report: Improving Social Outcomes for Students with Autism at Recess Through Peer-Mediated Pivotal Response Training. J Autism Dev Disord 48, 2224–2230 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-017-3435-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-017-3435-3