EBP Compendium: Summary of Systematic Review
Increasing Social Interaction among Adolescents with Intellectual Disabilities and Their General Education Peers: Effective Interventions
Carter, E. W., & Hughes, C.
(2005).
Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, 30(4), 179-193
Indicators of Review Quality:
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The review addresses a clearly focused question
| No |
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Criteria for inclusion of studies are provided
| Yes |
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Search strategy is described in sufficient detail for replication
| Yes |
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Included studies are assessed for study quality
| Yes |
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Quality assessments are reproducible
| No |
Description: This is a review of empirical investigations on the “the efficacy of interventions directed at increasing social interaction among adolescents with intellectual disabilities and their general education peers in secondary schools” (p. 180). Studies in which the majority of participants were identified as having autism or other disabilities without intellectual disability were excluded. This review includes some adolescents with autism spectrum disorders; however, the relative number of individuals with autism in the review is unclear.
Question(s) Addressed:
Question not specifically stated.
Population: Individuals with intellectual disabilities receiving special education services in the secondary school system.
Intervention/Assessment: Skill-based interventions focused on increasing social interaction with peers, and support-based interventions focused on structuring school environment to support peer interactions
Number of Studies Included: 26
Years Included: 1975 - 2004
Findings:
Conclusions:
- Treatment
- Cognition
- Peer Mediated/Implemented & Pragmatic/Social Skills
- Skill-based and support-based interventions were effective to increase peer interaction across participants with a range of intellectual disabilities; however, differential effects were noted for several types of interventions by severity.
- Communication book instruction, social interaction skill instruction, and peer support arrangements were most effective for participants with severe intellectual disabilities, whereas general education participation and the assignment of roles to general education peers was most effective for participants with moderate disabilities (p. 186).
Keywords: Intellectual Disabilities, Social Skills
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Added to Compendium: January 2012