Comparing development-matched and age-matched play targets: A replication and extension.

Area of Science:

• Developmental Psychology
• Applied Behavior Analysis
• Autism Spectrum Disorder Research

Background:

• Previous research suggests development-matched targets are more effective than age-matched targets for teaching play skills to children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
• Replication and extension of these findings are crucial due to limited existing studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To replicate and extend previous research on the efficacy of development-matched versus age-matched play targets for children with ASD.
• To investigate the acquisition of play skills using a newer assessment tool and broader play categories.
• To incorporate caregiver input for identifying socially valid play targets.

Main Methods:

• The study involved four children with ASD, comparing the acquisition of play skills using development-matched and age-matched targets.
• No artificial prompts or consequences were employed during skill acquisition.
• Extensions included using an updated Developmental Play Assessment, targeting diverse play categories, assessing imitation skills, and conducting caregiver interviews.

Main Results:

• Participants demonstrated a greater level of scripted play actions when targets were development-matched, consistent with prior research.
• The study successfully extended previous findings by incorporating new assessment methods and caregiver preferences.

Conclusions:

• Development-matched targets appear more effective for teaching play skills to children with ASD compared to age-matched targets.
• The findings support the use of individualized, development-appropriate interventions for enhancing play abilities in children with ASD.
• Incorporating caregiver perspectives enhances the social validity and potential generalization of learned play skills.