Graduation Year

2019

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

M.S.

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.)

Degree Granting Department

Child and Family Studies

Major Professor

Catia Cividini-Motta, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Raymond Miltenberger, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Kimberly Crosland, Ph.D.

Keywords

autism spectrum disorder, emotion, social skills training, speech generating devices

Abstract

Many individuals with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have deficits in social skills (e.g., Church, Alisanski, & Amanullah, 2000;). More specifically, individuals with an ASD may have deficits in tacting and commenting on the emotions of others as well as their own (Hobson, 1986). One potential way to facilitate the acquisition of social skills by individuals with an ASD is through the use a social skill application. The OiGO© application was developed to offer a modality to allow individuals to appropriately tact and comment on emotions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether participants would learn to tact and comment on the emotional responding of other individuals using OiGO©. This study used a multiple baseline across participants with embedded probes design to assess the effects of OiGO© plus reinforcement on tacting and commenting vocally and through the use of the application. Correct vocal responding increased from baseline levels for one of three participants. In addition, all participants quickly met mastery criterion via OiGO© responding during the OiGO© plus reinforcement phase. Furthermore, responding during the generalization probes was variable. These results combined suggest that individuals with autism can quickly learn to use this application.

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