Evaluating Function-Based Social Stories™ With Children With Autism. (November 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pane, Heather M.; Sidener, Tina M.; Vladescu, Jason C.; Nirgudkar, Anjalee
• Is Part Of: Behavior modification. Volume 39:Number 6(2015:Nov.)
• Page Start: 912
• Page End: 931
• Publication Date: 2015-11
• Subjects: autism -- brief functional analysis -- Social Stories™ -- functional communication training; Behavior modification -- Periodicals; Behavior therapy -- Periodicals; 153.85
• DOI: 10.1177/0145445515603708
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0145-4455

Abstract

Social Stories™ are often used with children with autism to provide information about appropriate behaviors in specific contexts. Although Social Stories™ often target reduction of problem behavior, there is limited research evaluating function-based Social Stories™ based on the results of experimental functional analyses. This study used a brief functional analysis to assist in developing a Social Story™ that matched the function of the target behavior for two boys with autism. The differential effects of a Social Story™ that matched the function of the behavior, a Social Story™ that did not match the function of the behavior, and a Social Story™ that described baseline were compared in an alternating treatments design. Results indicated that (a) the function-based Social Story™ plus functional communication training (FCT) was effective in decreasing target problem behavior and increasing target mands for both participants, (b) both participants selected the function-based Social Story™ during treatment preference evaluations, and (c) both participants maintained low levels of target problem behavior and maintained target mands when the Social Stories™ were removed.