Effects of video modelling on training and generalisation of social initiation and reciprocal play by children with autism

Abstract

Previous research using children with autism has shown that video modelling can be effective in enhancing a variety of skills. The present study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of video modelling intervention to promote social initiation and reciprocal play as well as to increase the likelihood of generalisation of the treatment gains across stimuli. Three children with autism participated in this study and experimental control was demonstrated using a multiple baseline across subjects design. Each child watched a short videotape showing a model and the experimenter engaged in a simple reciprocal play using one toy. When this behaviour was established, then programming for generalisation across four other toys in the absence of a videotape took place. For all children, video modelling appeared to enhance both the social initiation and play skills and also it facilitated the generalisation of this social behaviour across stimuli. The behaviour changes for these three children generalised across settings and subjects and maintained after a 1- and 3- month follow-up period.