This study explores the role of Bicycle Motocross (BMX) beyond its conventional recreational function, focusing on its impact on individual and social wellbeing. Through a quantitative approach employing the Adolescent Resilience Questionnaire and a tailored BMX Riding Experiences Survey, factors associated to BMX are used to predict mental and…

We examined the effectiveness of systematic prompting of peer-related behaviors delivered during small group academic instructional sessions with three dyads of preschool-aged children with deficits in social competence. One child was randomly assigned as the target child in each dyad. A multiple-probe single-case research design was utilized to…

Reflective practice is considered a highly valued graduate attribute in the field of occupational therapy. Occupational therapy educators influence and shape how students develop into reflective practitioners. Reflective practice requires a set of complex thinking skills that are typically focused on personal experiences and can be broken down…

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have qualitative impairments in social interaction and often prefer food or tangible reinforcement to social reinforcement. Thus, therapists who work with children with ASD often use food or tangible items as reinforcers to increase appropriate behaviors or decrease problem behaviors. The goal of the…

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a lifelong developmental disability that affects social development and social communication. As the prevalence of ASD increases, more children on the spectrum are growing into adolescents and young adults. Adolescents have unique needs as they transition from childhood to adulthood. One imperative skill deficit…

Observational learning (OL) is critical for the acquisition of social skills and may be an important skill for learning in traditional educational settings. Although OL occurs during early childhood in the typically developing population, research suggests that it may be limited in children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The…

A desired outcome of teaching intercultural communication is cultivating an understanding and awareness of different cultural values while attempting to increase intercultural communication competence within our students. Goals of teaching intercultural communication include assisting students in recognizing, accepting, and appreciating cultural…

The case presented here adopts a Symbolic Interactionist Observational Approach, as well as Systemic Functional Linguistics, to assess the effectiveness of a student peer-mentoring activity. Three of the author's Level 6 Education Studies students are invited to re-enact their Integrated Learning Project for the Level 5 cohort of students. In…

Peer-related social competencies can have a major impact on classroom success. While some students can learn these social competencies through observation and imitation of others, other students require intensive intervention in social skills to be able to interact appropriately with others. This article presents social narratives as a behavioral…

The authors describe an intervention for 3 preschoolers with disabilities who had low peer-related social competence. The intervention taught academic skills tailored to the need of each target student in small groups (triads) with two typically developing peers, using a progressive time delay procedure. Prior to instruction and separate from the…

This study used a concurrent correlational design to examine associations between three types of motor imitation with objects and three proposed correlates in 32 two- and three-year-old children diagnosed with ASD. Attention-following and fine motor ability were significant, unique correlates of imitation in an observational learning context.…

Being asked to give the Charles H. McCloy research lecture is one of the highlights of the author's academic career. Although McCloy's primary area of expertise was measurement and the analysis of motor skills, he also shared an avid interest in youth development through sport and physical activity. In this article, the author features youth sport…

The effectiveness of observational learning in social skills acquisition was assessed with two moderately retarded adults (ages 23 and 27) who were being trained as role models with mentally retarded peers. (Author/PHR)

Evaluated the incremental effects of a cognitive map and a symbolic code in undergraduate students (N=55) learning the modeled social skill of job interviewing. Results indicated that these techniques appeared to be strong in facilitating the acquisition and retention of modeled social skills. (LLL)

The effects of model age and competence on the imitation behavior of 80 educable mentally retarded boys (mean age 12.2 years) were investigated. (Author/PHR)