ERIC Number: ED547916
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 196
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 978-1-2674-2829-5
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
The Effects of Participating in a Multi-Media Social Skills Intervention on the Social Functioning of Three Middle School Students with IEPs
Geiger, Michael Damon, Jr.
ProQuest LLC, Ed.D. Dissertation, Northern Illinois University
Students with emotional disturbance exhibit difficulty interpreting and responding appropriately to social situations occurring in the community, home, and school. Interactive multimedia instruction has advanced to the degree that it is possible to create learning environments that encourage active problem solving and knowledge construction. This paper will present the findings of the implementation of a specific software program, "Harmony Island", and its effect on the social behavior of three adolescent males with individualized education plans (IEPs) receiving special education services in a self-contained emotional disturbance (ED) supported study hall. Using a single-subject, AB, pre-post experimental design, the effect "Harmony Island" had on each participant's social behavior from the perspective of multiple data sources was evaluated over three research phases. Results of the teacher and student versions of the Social Skills Rating System, number of excused and unexcused absences, number of office discipline referrals, number of periods in alternative learning environment, number of points earned on the behavior performance sheets plus the scores of a four-item pre- and post-assessment were tabulated. Upon the completion of "Harmony Island", each participant rated the program using a 12-question post-test debriefing assessment and a three-item post-test oral assessment. The two post-assessments provided data used to evaluate how each participant rated his/her interaction with this interactive multimedia program. The results of the data evaluation were inconsistent as to the effectiveness of "Harmony Island" on the three participants' social behavior. Some data seems to indicate positive effects related to the development of appropriate social interactions and other data seems to indicate no improvement. The data sources evaluated were very dynamic and showed that "Harmony Island" may not have had any effect on the social behavior of the three participants. Future research may look to evaluate this program with a larger sample size in a more stable environment. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
Descriptors: Middle School Students, Emotional Disturbances, Intervention, Computer Software, Social Behavior, Early Adolescents, Males, Individualized Education Programs, Special Education, Self Contained Classrooms, Pretests Posttests, Attendance Patterns, Referral, Discipline, Behavior Problems, Student Behavior, Program Effectiveness, Multimedia Instruction
ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway, P.O. Box 1346, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. Tel: 800-521-0600; Web site: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml
Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: Middle Schools; Secondary Education; Junior High Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Social Skills Rating System
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A