Effectiveness of power card strategy in teaching social skill for children with autism spectrum disorder

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of the power card strategy in promoting social skill in children with autism spectrum disorder. In line with this goal, a power card strategy-based teaching program was prepared to help children with autism spectrum disorder cope with their primary social skill, such as peer bullying (exclusion, being pushed and being tickle). The study evaluated whether children with autism spectrum disorder used the power card strategy to cope with different peer bullying situations (mocking, damaging their property, and ignoring) that they acquired through the power card strategy. In addition, it was determined whether the children retained what they had learned through the power card strategy at the end of the first, third, and fifth weeks following the teaching sessions. The opinions of the families, teachers and participating students on the social validity of the power card strategy application were also evaluated.Single-subject research models, participant observation multi-observation model, were used in the study. The sessions were recorded on video, and standard conditions were provided for the research by keeping the data collection tools, environment, implementer, offered tips, reinforcing agents, and working hours used in the study constant and at the same level. The findings of this study showed that the power card strategy is effective in promoting social skill in coping with peer bullying in children with autism spectrum disorder. The children were able to generalize the skills they gained to different peer bullying (mocking, damaging property, and ignoring) situations, and still retained them at the end of the first, third, and fifth weeks following the completion of the teaching. It was also determined that there were positive views on the implementation of the power card strategy and its effects on children with autism spectrum disorder among the families, teachers and students.