Effect of Learning Types of Social Skills from a Board Game on the Non-Emotional Expression of the Learned Skills Among Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder at Autistic Research Center Khon Kaen University
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Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of utilizing a board game for instructing 3 specific social skills (waiting, sharing, and emotional self-control (WSE) in kindergarten children with autism spectrum disorder (KwASD). The research also assessed the weekly frequency of the acquired WSE skills being expressed in daily life without accompanying irritability.
Methods: Conducted between May 1 and August 31, 2021, the research employed a purposive sampling approach, A - B model, within a single-subject design, involving 5 cases. Participants were KwASD aged 5 - 7 years from the Khon Kaen University Autistic Center. Ethical approval was obtained from the Human Research Ethics Committee at Khon Kaen University (HE643074). Research instruments included 1) a board game developed by the authors, emphasis on learning through social and experiential learning theory to impart each of WSE skills, underwent evaluation and approval by 3 experts in teaching and nursing KwASD and resulted in an item objective congruence (IOC) ranging from 0.67 to 1 for each assessment item; 2) An assessment form to appraise the weekly frequency of expression of the learned WSE without irritability, and underwent evaluation by the same expert panel, yielding IOC from 0.67 to 1 for each assessment item; and 3) a demographic data collection form. Statistical analysis involved enumerating item numbers, analyzing raw data changes, and creating single-subject design and baseline trend graphs using Microsoft Excel.
Results: Following structured teaching sessions with the board game, centered around events requiring WSE expression, all KwASD participants demonstrated increased expression of WSE in daily life, with reduced irritability compared to pre-learning levels. Subsequent teaching sessions consistently elevated all WSE scores above the baseline trend.
Conclusion: The findings suggested that a board game can effectively serve as a tool for instructing KwASD in acquiring and applying social skills, specifically focusing on waiting, sharing, and emotional self-control.
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