A meta-analysis of science education studies for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD)

Teaching science education has remained limited for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), which, in turn, has resulted in an ongoing discrepancy between these students and their typically developing peers for decades. Although there is a growing body of research in effective teaching approaches aimed at overcoming this discrepancy, there is still a need to identify evidence-based practices for addressing this academic core content. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to (a) find out the skills taught in science education to students with IDD, (b) define the characteristics of instructional approaches or adaptations of instructional approaches used to teach science content and practices, (c) conduct visual and effect size analysis of science education studies meeting the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) quality indicators (QIs; Cook et al., 2015), and (d) determine whether there are differences in effect sizes of science education studies meeting CEC QIs based on participant and intervention characteristics. Of 27 studies reviewed, 18 studies met all the CEC QIs. A meta-analysis of these 18 studies resulted in an overall medium effect size of 0.82 CI95 (0.76, 0.87). While all the moderator variables showed a medium effect size in participant characteristics, intervention characteristics showed differences in effect sizes for comprehension-based learning and peer and researcher-implemented interventions

Implementation of the Sound Partners Reading Program

Eleven first grade and 10 second grade students, all with reading and behavioral difficulties, received one-on-one tutoring using the Sound Partners reading program (Vadasy & Pool, 1997). Students received 30 min of tutoring each day for 5 months. Students were assessed on Letter-Word Identification, Passage Comprehension, and Word Attack subtests of the Woodcock-Johnson-Revised (WJ-R): Tests of Achievement. An informal measure (rapid letter naming) was also used. Results indicated that gains of approximately 1 standard deviation (or greater) were noted for subtests of the WJ-R for first-grade students; second graders showed relatively stable performance from pre- to posttest assessments. Similar performance was noted on the informal measure across grades. Program satisfaction data showed that overall the tutors, teachers, and students were pleased with the program. Discussion focuses on the implications for future investigations

Investigating the Effects of Self-Monitoring Interventions with Students with Disabilities on the Maintenance and Generalization of On-Task Behavior: A Systematic Literature Review

Although there is a consensus regarding the positive effects of self-monitoring interventions on improving on-task behaviors of students with disabilities, the findings for maintenance and generalization have not been shown to be consistent across studies (i.e., Cook & Sayeski, 2020; Wood et al., 2002). The current study aimed to assess the research analyzing the effects of self-management on students' on-task behavior using the What Works Clearinghouse design standards (Kratochwill et al., 2013) and the resulting maintenance and generalization of on-task behaviors (if any) in specific using standards developed by Neely et al. (2016) and Neely et al. (2018). The findings indicate that programming for maintenance and generalization of on-task behavior in self-monitoring interventions are generally poor in quality and quantity

A meta-analysis of applied behavior analysis-based ınterventions for ındividuals with autism spectrum disorders (asd) in Turkey

Interventions based on the principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA) have been determined to be evidenced-based practices and are widely used with individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) across the world. Originally developed in the USA, implementation of these interventions has become widespread in the last decade in Turkey. Given the significance of culture in guiding ABA practices, this meta-analysis investigated the prevalence and the magnitude effects of ABA-based interventions and whether specific participant and intervention characteristics moderated such effects in Turkey. Seventy-one ABA-based intervention studies were assessed based on What Works Clearinghouse (WWC, Kratochwill et al., Remedial and Special Education, 34(1), 26–38, 2013) design standards (DSs) including (a) systematic manipulation of independent variables, (b) interrater reliability, (c) three demonstrations of the intervention effect, and (d) adequate number of data points collected for each condition. Forty-three studies that met WWC (Kratochwill et al., Remedial and Special Education, 34(1), 26–38, 2013) DSs were analyzed and calculated with baseline-corrected tau (Tarlow, Behavior Modification, 41(4), 427–467, 2017). Furthermore, performance-criteria-based effect size values (PCES; Aydin and Tanious, Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 2021) were calculated for 27 studies that had mastery criteria. While the overall tau appeared to be large 0.71 (p = 0.072, se = 0.254), the overall effect size for PCES revealed a small effect of 0.73. The comparisons of all sub-categories’ effect sizes of moderator variables were not statistically significant based on Kruskal Wallis or Mann Whitney U tests. Additionally, findings revealed that studies were predominantly implemented by highly trained researchers in segregated one-on-one settings, and did not include adults with ASD nor challenging behavior. Overall, there has been significant growth in ABA-based interventions in Turkey that show promise in improving the lives of individuals with ASD. However, further research and cultural considerations are essential for a comprehensive understanding of their impact in the Turkish context. Findings from two different effect size analyses and recommendations for future studies are discussed. © 2024, This is a U.S. Government work and not under copyright protection in the US; foreign copyright protection may apply

Generalized effects of a peer-delivered first aid program for students with moderate intellectual disabilities.

Peers with mild intellectual disabilities taught first aid skills to 4 students with moderate intellectual disabilities. A multiple probe design across participants was used to examine the effects of the peer teaching program during an acquisition and a partial sequential withdrawal phase. Generalization assessments were conducted in the participants' homes using novel, randomized simulated injuries. Results suggested that the peer teaching program resulted in acquisition of first aid skills, and the participants' skills generalized to the home, to novel simulated-injury locations, and to new trainers. Additionally, a more detailed analysis of the generalized responding suggested that when given a choice among first aid materials, participants treated burns using large adhesive bandages rather than the materials used in training. Participants also successfully treated injuries when novel instructional cues were used. The findings are discussed with respect to training issues, generalization and maintenance of the acquired skills, and the use of peer tutors with disabilities

Problem solving to prevent work injuries in supported employment.

A problem-solving strategy was used to teach three groups of 3 individuals in supported employment how to prevent work-related injuries. The problem-solving strategy was taught in two training phases. The first training phase involved the use of cue cards, and the second involved the withdrawal of the cue cards. Interviews and staged generalization assessments in the participants' natural work environments were conducted before, during, and up to 12 weeks after training. In these assessments, situations were presented that were either similar or dissimilar to situations presented in training. Results of both the interviews and staged assessments indicated that the participants' newly acquired problem-solving skills generalized to similar and dissimilar situations