The Effects of a Peer-Mediated Social Skills Intervention on the Social Communication Behavior of Children with Autism at Recess

Children with ASD face enormous challenges in the area of social functioning. Research has shown that impairments in social functioning distinguish this population from both typically developing children and children with disabilities. Fortunately, multiple techniques and intervention packages have been demonstrated to effectively increase appropriate social communication between children with ASD and their peers at school. Another challenge that adults working with children with ASD face is the problem of generalization. Social skills taught during structured social skill groups, for example, may not generalize to natural settings. This study incorporated several social skills-teaching procedures from the literature (direct instruction, priming, prompting, peer-mediation, contingent reinforcement, and token economies) to target social skills for four children with ASD (ages 6-8) directly in the recess setting. Elements of Peer Networks and Pivotal Response Training (two types of social skills intervention packages in the literature) were included. Results show significant increases in social communication between focus children and their peers, as well as generalization of skills to non-intervention recesses

Estimation of value of travel-time savings using mixed logit models

In this paper, we discuss some of the issues that arise with the computation of the implied value of travel-time savings in the case of discrete choice models allowing for random taste heterogeneity. We specifically look at the case of models producing a non-zero probability of positive travel-time coefficients, and discuss the consistency of such estimates with theories of rational economic behaviour. We then describe how the presence of unobserved travel-experience attributes or conjoint activities can bias the estimation of the travel-time coefficient, and can lead to false conclusions with regards to the existence of negative valuations of travel-time savings. We note that while it is important not to interpret such estimates as travel-time coefficients per se, it is nevertheless similarly important to allow such effects to manifest themselves; as such, the use of distributions with fixed bounds is inappropriate. On the other hand, the use of unbounded distributions can lead to further problems, as their shape (especially in the case of symmetrical distributions) can falsely imply the presence of positive estimates. We note that a preferable solution is to use bounded distributions where the bounds are estimated from the data during model calibration. This allows for the effects of data impurities or model misspecifications to manifest themselves, while reducing the risk of bias as a result of the shape of the distribution. To conclude, a brief application is conducted to support the theoretical claims made in the paper

Hidden in plain sight:Using administrative data to conduct a longitudinal cohort study of children exposed to opioids in pregnancy

Objectives: Children of women who use substances are difficult to research at a population-level using traditional research methods due to the complexity of their lives. Resultingly, we have little robust evidence on their outcomes. This study developed an administrative data cohort of children exposed to opioids and explored health outcomes.Methods: Using data from birth records, antenatal records, prescription data, hospital/psychiatric hospital admissions, and drug and alcohol service data, we identified 6,408 children (born 2009-2019) in Scotland who were exposed to opioids through illicit use and/or medication assisted treatment (i.e. methadone/buprenorphine). A control group (n. 19,089) of children not exposed to opioids were matched on age of mother and Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation. Data were described and linear and logistic regression models were used to examine the relationship between risk factors (such as drug and alcohol use in pregnancy, gestation at booking and at birth), and key early outcomes.Results: Although the majority of women had their substance use recorded in antenatal records, 28.9\% did not, demonstrating the importance of using multiple administrative datasets to form the cohort. Children in the cohort were more likely to experience a range of adverse outcomes including being born early (17\% born prematurely, compared with 6.5\% in control group), having a below normal Apgar score (the scoring system used to assess newborns shortly after birth) (2.9\% in cohort vs. 1.5\% in controls), having significantly lower birthweight, length and head circumference, and more likely to be removed from their mother prior hospital discharge. Differences between the cohorts remained after controlling for other risk factors including alcohol use, and gestation.Conclusion: This feasibility study brought together a cohort of children usually excluded from traditional forms of research. The research demonstrated early differences in outcomes between exposed children and others from similar socio-economic groups. The next stage of this research is exploring health and development outcomes in the preschool period

KSFNM: Faculty Chamber Players, Soldier\u27s and Devil\u27s Tales

This special performance of the 2017 Kennesaw State Festival of New Music (KSFNM) features KSU faculty performing Igor Stravinsky\u27s L\u27Histoire du soldat (The Soldier\u27s Tale) followed by The Devil\u27s Tale, James M. Stephenson\u27s sequel to Stravinsky\u27s esteemed work.https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/musicprograms/1878/thumbnail.jp