Effects of social stories on non-compliant behavior in pre-school general education setting.

Abstract

Social stories have been widely used for children diagnosed with autism; however, little research has been conducted on the use of social stories with children in a general education setting who have no diagnosed disabilities. This study investigates the use of social stories with students with no disabilities in a general education preschool classroom at a university based group care center. In this study, social stories were developed and implemented to decrease non-compliant behaviors and increase pro social behaviors of children during clean-up time. Participants included four 3 and 4 year old preschool students. A quantitative experimental design was used to analyze the effects of the social story on an experimental group of two students, compared to a control group of two students. Direct observation and a daily behavioral record were used to tally the number of targeted behaviors each participant demonstrated during clean-up. Results indicated an increase in pro social behaviors and a decrease in non-compliant behaviors for one participant in the experimental group and a decrease in pro social behaviors and an increase in non-compliant behaviors for the other participant in the experimental group. Limitations included a small sample size with a number of outside variables that could have affected the participant’s behaviors.