The effectiveness and efficiency of video modeling where peer and adult model used in teaching role playing skills to children with autism

The purpose of the present study was to compare the effectiveness and efficiency of video modeling where peer and adult model used in teaching role playing skills to students with autism. Maintenance and generalization effects of the procedures were compared as well. Also, social validity of the study was investigated by asking the parents of the students in the study. Three students with autism whose ages ranged from 5 to 6 participated in this study. An adapted alternating treatments design was used to compare the procedures in the study. Target skills for the students were soup cooking play and first-aid play skills.The findings of the study showed that both procedures were equally effective on promoting acquisition of the role play skills for the students with autism. However, no difference was found between the two procedures regarding maintenance and generalization effects.Efficiency findings of this study showed that peer model and adult model were equally efficient regarding the total number of training sessions and instructional trials for two students. On the other hand, it was observed that peer model is more efficient than adult model with one session difference for another student. When the efficiency findings were examined in terms of the percentage of incorrect responses, it was observed that peer and adult model were equally efficient for three students. When research findings were examined in terms of the total time of efficiency parameters, the data showed that peer model is more efficient for two of the students; however, adult model is more efficient for another student.Furthermore, the result of social validity analysis indicated that the opinions of the parents of the students were very positive overall.Key words: Video modeling, peer model and adult model, autism, role play skills.