The Paper

What is the relationship between non-verbal children diagnosed with autism learning to use PECS as a method of communication and the reduction in parental stress levels?

Procedure:

Data collection is an important part of research as it allows to further analyze the variables for the research. In addition, data collection is a form of statistical analysis in which we can gather numerous amount of data and be able to form inferences and predictions of the hypothesis and the data outcome (Leedy & Ormrod, 2013). This quantitative paper will be based on observations, questionnaires, and surveys administered to parents. This chosen data-collection strategy will best work for the purpose of this project as it will allow for the direct observation of the procedure, direct answers from parents answering questionnaires and surveys.

Researchers as well as research assistants will be conducting the study. The study will take place in two private rooms of an after-school program. One of the rooms has been equipped with the necessary reinforcements and materials for the implementation of the PECS by the after-school program staff. The second room has been equipped with chairs, tables, paper, pencils, a white board with instructions, and a sign in sheet. The data will be collected by first administering an inform consent form to parents and a second consent form for the participation of their children in the study. Once parents sign both consent forms, demographics information will be collected. Each participant will be assigned a random number that will serve as an identification number in the study and it will help to maintain the confidentiality and anonymity of the participants. Parents will first be debriefed that they may remove their children from the project at any time without any question as well as they may remove themselves from the project at any time. Parents will be given several of questionnaires and surveys to answer along with the demographic information throughout the intervention. Researchers and assistants will be the ones administering the survey, questionnaires, and demographics intervention. Questionnaires and Surveys will be formatted on a Likert scale format ranging from 1-7. The intervention and implementation of the PECS phases will be conducted by the after-school program. It will be conducted 3 days a week for 2.5 hours. Data will be collected for a period of 6 months as learners using PECS need time to move from each of the phases of PECS. Participants engagement in the PECS phase will be contingent on the after-school program staff and behavior analysts. Direct observation of the intervention of PECS will be directly observed using a two-way window. Researchers and research assistants will not have direct contact with the participants. Observation will take place in a conjunction room and video recording will be utilized to help further analyze the data. Data will be taken on the frequency of parent’s engagement and the frequency of responses emitted in addition to the duration of parent’s engagement will be taken.

All of the data gathered from the interventions frequency and duration taken, questionnaires, surveys, and demographic information will be inputted using SPSS to statistically analyzed the data. Each participant will have an assigned number and data taken from each participant will be inputted on SPSS. The questionnaires and surveys will be entered in SPSS based on the Likert scale number answered by parents. Frequency and duration of the observation will be graphed as well as entering them in SPSS. Data will be analyzed utilizing SPSS to statistically analyze the scores of the data, a correlational analysis will be analyzed to determine the mean scores, frequencies, outliers, descriptive statistics, and the Eta square of the data.

Limitations:

There are some limitations to this project that cannot be avoided. First, all of the participants have different development of PECS as they will be in different phases. Parent participation on the usage of PECS cannot be intervened on and its solely up to the parents to maximize their participation. Participants attending all of the sessions is another limitation. Given the population that will be participating, unforeseen reasons such as being sick. Parental stress factors can be another limitaition as not all stress will be perceived by not being able to communicate with their child who is non-verbal. Other factors may increase the overall stress levels.

Appendix A:

Questionnaires used Surveys:

· Perceived Stress Questionnaire

· St. Luke's Questionnaire of Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms

· Perceived Stress Impact Questionnaire

· Responses to Stress Questionnaire–Social Stress Version

· Autism Parenting Stress Index

· Finding Meaning in Parenting A Child with Asperger Syndrome Measure.

· Maternal Guilt Questionnaire

· Decision Observation, Recording, and Analysis Tool

· Sense and Self-Regulation Checklist

References

Algozzine, B., Newton, J. S., Horner, R. H., Todd, A. W., & Algozzine, K. (2012). Decision

Observation, Recording, and Analysis Tool. Psyctests, doi:10.1037/t36311-000

Connor-Smith, J. K., Compas, B. E., Wadsworth, M. E., Thomsen, A. H., & Saltzman, H.

(2000). Responses to Stress Questionnaire–Social Stress Version. Psyctests,

doi:10.1037/t01838-000

Kawana, N., Ishimatsu, S., Matsui, Y., Tamaki, S., & Kanda, K. (2005). St. Luke's Questionnaire

of Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms. Psyctests, doi:10.1037/t17233-000

Kuhn, J. C., & Carter, A. S. (2006). Maternal Guilt Questionnaire. Psyctests,

doi:10.1037/t30269-000

Leedy, P. D., & Ormrod, J. E. (2013). Practical research: Planning and design (10th ed.). Upper

Saddle River, NJ: Pearson

Levenstein, S., Prantera, C., Varvo, V., Scribano, M. L., Berto, E., Luzi, C., & Andreoli, A.

(1993). Perceived Stress Questionnaire. Psyctests, doi:10.1037/t10467-000

Pakenham, K. I., Sofronoff, K., & Samios, C. (2004). Finding Meaning in Parenting A Child with Asperger Syndrome Measure. Psyctests, doi:10.1037/t39844-000

Schwarzwald, J., Weisenberg, M., Waysman, M., Solomon, Z., & Klingman, A. (1993).

Perceived Stress Impact Questionnaire. Psyctests, doi:10.1037/t23229-000

Silva, L. T., & Schalock, M. (2012). Autism Parenting Stress Index. Psyctests,

doi:10.1037/t15283-000

Silva, L. T., & Schalock, M. (2012). Sense and Self-Regulation Checklist. Psyctests,

doi:10.1037/t15282-000