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Effects of a Reading Inference Strategy Intervention on the Reading and Social Inference Abilities of Adults with Asperger Syndrome

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Date Issued:
2011
Abstract/Description:
The ability to generate inferences is a skill that is necessary to fully comprehend a text and understand the intentions, behaviors, and emotions of a conversational partner. Individuals with Asperger syndrome (AS) have been shown to demonstrate significant difficulty in inference generation in both social contexts and in reading comprehension. Although, the reciprocity of the four components of literacy (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) has been established in the literature (Bradley (&) Bryant, 1983; Catts (&) Kamhi, 2005; Englert (&) Thomas, 1987; Gillon (&) Dodd, 1995; Hiebert, 1980; Kroll, 1981; Ruddell (&) Ruddell, 1994); the relationship between inference generation in reading and social inference generation is not well understood. The present study investigated the efficacy of a language-focused reading inference strategy intervention (ACT (&) Check Strategy) on the general reading comprehension, inference generation in reading, social inference, and metacognitive ability of adults with AS. Twenty-five adults with AS were randomly assigned to either a treatment or a control group. The treatment group participants were divided into groups of 3-4 based on their availability and preferred location for treatment resulting in a total of 4 groups. Each group met in one-hour sessions twice a week for a total of six weeks. When controlling for pretest scores, the treatment group was found to perform significantly better on one measure of inference generation in reading and metacognitive ability compared to the control group. Significant differences between groups were not found in two measures of inference generation in reading comprehension or social inference ability. These findings suggest that the ACT (&) Check strategy was effective in improving participants' ability to generate inferences as they read and their metacognitive reading ability. However, instruction in inference generation in reading does not appear to generalize to other language modalities (i.e., social inference generation). This research provides support for an explicit language-focused strategy intervention addressing the reading inference deficit area. Further research is warranted to investigate potential interventions to address social inference skills for individuals with AS.
Title: Effects of a Reading Inference Strategy Intervention on the Reading and Social Inference Abilities of Adults with Asperger Syndrome.
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Name(s): Murza, Kimberly, Author
Nye, William, Committee Chair
Ehren, Barbara, Committee Member
Schwartz, Jamie, Committee Member
Hahs-Vaughn, Debbie, Committee Member
, Committee Member
University of Central Florida, Degree Grantor
Type of Resource: text
Date Issued: 2011
Publisher: University of Central Florida
Language(s): English
Abstract/Description: The ability to generate inferences is a skill that is necessary to fully comprehend a text and understand the intentions, behaviors, and emotions of a conversational partner. Individuals with Asperger syndrome (AS) have been shown to demonstrate significant difficulty in inference generation in both social contexts and in reading comprehension. Although, the reciprocity of the four components of literacy (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) has been established in the literature (Bradley (&) Bryant, 1983; Catts (&) Kamhi, 2005; Englert (&) Thomas, 1987; Gillon (&) Dodd, 1995; Hiebert, 1980; Kroll, 1981; Ruddell (&) Ruddell, 1994); the relationship between inference generation in reading and social inference generation is not well understood. The present study investigated the efficacy of a language-focused reading inference strategy intervention (ACT (&) Check Strategy) on the general reading comprehension, inference generation in reading, social inference, and metacognitive ability of adults with AS. Twenty-five adults with AS were randomly assigned to either a treatment or a control group. The treatment group participants were divided into groups of 3-4 based on their availability and preferred location for treatment resulting in a total of 4 groups. Each group met in one-hour sessions twice a week for a total of six weeks. When controlling for pretest scores, the treatment group was found to perform significantly better on one measure of inference generation in reading and metacognitive ability compared to the control group. Significant differences between groups were not found in two measures of inference generation in reading comprehension or social inference ability. These findings suggest that the ACT (&) Check strategy was effective in improving participants' ability to generate inferences as they read and their metacognitive reading ability. However, instruction in inference generation in reading does not appear to generalize to other language modalities (i.e., social inference generation). This research provides support for an explicit language-focused strategy intervention addressing the reading inference deficit area. Further research is warranted to investigate potential interventions to address social inference skills for individuals with AS.
Identifier: CFE0004146 (IID), ucf:49045 (fedora)
Note(s): 2011-12-01
Ph.D.
Education, Dean's Office EDUC
Doctoral
This record was generated from author submitted information.
Subject(s): Asperger syndrome -- autism spectrum disorder -- adult -- inference -- reading -- social -- pragmatic -- intervention
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004146
Restrictions on Access: campus 2016-12-15
Host Institution: UCF

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