A Brief Group Intervention Using Video Games to Teach Sportsmanship Skills to Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Abstract

Impaired social skills represent a fundamental deficit for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Despite the potential importance of “good sportsmanship,” this social skill has received relatively little attention in the literature. The current study utilized a Behavioral Skills Training (BST) approach to teach three sportsmanship skills (i.e., complimenting, turn taking, and being a good sport) during video game play (Wii Sports). Six children with ASD completed this study. Findings suggest BST can be used effectively to teach sportsmanship skills to children with ASD. The use of video-game technology as part of social skills intervention programs is also discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• autism
• Behavioral Skills Training
• social skills intervention

Notes

Note. *Number of sessions refers to the total number of baseline and intervention sessions attended by the participant (total possible = 10). **Following rules and Negative comments were not targeted during treatment. Baseline (BL), Treatment (TX), and Generalization (GEN) for these skills correspond to Baseline, Treatment, and Generalization sessions for Compliments. ***Negative comments reflect the percentage of sessions with negative comments; thus, reduction of negative comments from baseline to treatment was desired.

Note. *Significance tests were conducted between Baseline and Treatment phases only. Variability in N (i.e., the number of trials) is explained by differences in the length of baseline and treatment for each skill and because the number of games conducted during each session varied from 1 to 2 (i.e., approximately 4–12 trials).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jennifer M. Gillis

Jennifer M. Gillis, PhD, is now at the Department of Psychology, Binghamton University.