Date Approved

5-2-1995

Embargo Period

9-12-2016

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.A. in School Psychology

Department

Educational Services and Leadership

College

College of Education

Advisor

Dihoff, Roberta

Subject(s)

Mentally ill children--Education; Problem solving in children; Social skills--Study and teaching

Disciplines

Educational Psychology

Abstract

The purpose of this pretest-posttest descriptive study was to examine the efficacy of a SPS training intervention for emotionally disturbed children in the special education system, with respect to social skills acquisition, family environment, reduction in non-compliant behaviors and sociometric status. Participants included eighteen students in four self-contained classrooms of a Special Services Regional Day School. The sample included one white female, eleven white males, three black and three Hispanic males with a mean age of eleven years and ten months.

All classes were exposed to a six month program with lessons from the Readiness Phase of Elias and Clabby's (1989) Social Decision-Making Skills: A Curriculum Guide for Elementary Grades. Teachers completed the Social Problem Solving Checklist at pre and postintervention. Ex post facto data were collected from student files and sociometric data came from teacher interviews.

In general, percentage of change indicated that SPS training had positive effects on self-control and group participation skills and non-compliant behaviors decreased. This study highlighted the efficacy of preventative approaches and longitudinal research was recommended to evaluate the long term benefits of SPS training of emotionally disturbed children.

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