Analysis of a social story intervention to increase appropriate social interactions of individuals with autism

Abstract

This study used a multiple baseline across participants to examine the effectiveness of a social story intervention in increasing approrpiate social behaviors in four individuals with an Autistic Disorder. During baseline, participants demonstrated few appropriate social behaviors. Although an increase in appropriate social behaviors occurrred for all four participants after the social intervention was implemented, a greater increase was seen for two of the four participants. Appropriate behaviors for two of the participants were maintained up to 10 months during follow-up probes. This study extended the current research by (1) assessing the effects of comprehension questions, as part of the social story protocal, on increasing social interactions of individuals with autism; (2) assessing the level of program survival after the departure of the researcher; (3) assessing maintenance of the social skill behaviors; and (4) assessing the extent to which parents rated the effectivenss of social stories. The study also included participants ranging from five years of age through 18 years of age and was conducted in a home setting.