Formation and Generalization of Skills for Facilitating Behavior in Others : Junior High School Students With Developmental Disabilities

Abstract

In the present study, various kinds of social activity situations, such as games, cooking, and making things, were created, and conditions required for skills that facilitate others' behavior, such as encouraging the other person to start cooking by handing over a knife or other object while saying "here you are," were investigated. Participants were 2 junior high school students, one of whom had learning disabilities, and the other, an autistic disorder. Their parents' comments and also direct observations had indicated that both participants had problems with such social skills. The intervention was verbal teaching followed by direct instruction through video and modeling. The participants acquired skills for facilitating others' behavior. Although this study is undeniably anecdotal, it was later reported that skills for facilitating others' behavior emerged in both students in everyday situations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)