Treating Autism spectrum disorder has always been a major challenge for the physicians and the teachers. Recently, there has been a substantial increase in the number of researches being conducted for improving the understanding of the disorder especially concerning school based intervention programs. In this current research, the researcher has tried to explore the efficacy of video modelling as a method of interventional education for the children suffering with Autism spectrum disorder. The researcher tries to further explore how competent the deliverers of the intervention program feel about this plan of intervention. The rate of the disorder has been seen to be rising in the recent years. It has been observed that the children suffering from Autism spectrum disorder often find it difficult to conduct certain tasks. The difficulty could be due to the factors like the task is too much complicated for them, takes too long to be completed, there is a lack of motivation or due to immaturity and sensory issues on the part of the children. On further research, as it has been seen that the use of visual methodologies have proved to be helpful in expanding the behaviour of the children suffering with Autism spectrum disorder.
Using of video modelling has proved to be beneficial for the students suffering with Autism spectrum disorder. The procedures and the processes involved in the making of videos are also included in the teaching methodology. There can be different types of video modelling which may include basic video modelling, point of view video modelling, video self modelling and video prompting. The basic concept of video modelling consists of the fact that the targeted behaviour of skill is recorded while being performed by another person who is considered as the model for the video modelling. This enables the learner to watch the video time and again whenever he feels the need. Video modelling can be called as a productive and beneficial structure for the purpose of educating new abilities among the people with mental unevenness.
Lots of questions can arise when determining the type of video modelling and the procedures which are required. The questions can be regarding the need of model for the videos, who can be considered to be a model, and so on. Bandura, a renowned researcher has called Autism children as “active information processors”. He explains that learning with the help of models is possible; and the individuals are called as the models. He further explained that, in his environment a child is surrounded by many influential models like his family members, parents, TV characters, friend, teachers, neighbours and so on. All these models are examples of behaviour which a child animates. Thus, video modelling is an instrument which consolidates that observational learning idea with visual technique can be regarded as a great method of teaching children with Autism spectrum disorder.
A recorded teaching is considered to be extremely beneficial as it can be watched by the learner innumerable times without any hindrance or feeling of being a burden to others by repeatedly asking for a demonstration. Video prompting, on the other hand, consists of the process of recording a behavioral pattern in separate parts in all stages. It is ensured that each event is being recorded separately. Sufficient pauses are also included during the editing of the video in order to ensure that the learners get sufficient time to practice the steps before proceeding further with the video clip.
Despite the numerous evidences which prove that the use of video modelling can prove to be highly beneficial for the patients of Autism spectrum disorder, the frequency by which the providers are using the technique is unknown. One possible reason for providers not choosing to deliver this method may be the feeling of competency in delivering this intervention method.
In order to evaluate the effects of video modelling on the patients of Autism spectrum disorders, a meta-analysis becomes highly needed. Such a meta-analysis was conducted by different researchers in order to ascertain the efficacy of video modelling. The results obtained showed video modelling as a reliable intervention method. Hence, video modelling could successfully teach the children basic functional, communication skills, behavior and proper social norms. The meta- analysis considered a number of researches which were based on the use of video modelling in order to improve the communication skills, functional skills and behaviour function of the children suffering with Autism spectrum disorder. Using secondary data analysis, this particular study have presented the analysis of the frequency with which different researchers and teachers have used the video modelling methods with their clients and with the children suffering with Autism spectrum disorder. In addition to that, the study will further analyze the feelings of competency among the providers.
Thus particular study is a small part of a larger research which was designed to examine the feasibility, acceptability, and utility of implementation intervention involving community-based organizations providing services to youth with ASD. The participants of the study are the providers and supervisors of community based intervention programs designed for the autistic children. The participants have to go through an online survey which aimed at identifying the agency strength, their areas of growth and receptivity to deliver new practices within the agency.
One Autism spectrum disorder agency site was used for the study. However, the number of the participants could not be determined due to the variability in the sizes of the community agencies. The participants of the survey filled out questionnaires towards their contribution of information, thereby Graphical information provided the basis for analysis of the data which was recorded privately and analysed anonymously. The questionnaire consisted of a number of questions that encompassed the articulation of the new model; it included the entities in word from the provider of the content to the receiver of the video.
The primary objective of the research performed was to highlight the most effective medium of interventions from the respondents who are considered to be ideal for the training of communication and social skills. The study further facilitated the understanding regarding how medical professionals can include this method of training into their daily practices. The study also demonstrated the success of the programs that was actual and what was happening in different parts of the world. The research adopted qualitative approach and focused on the patients who are undergoing their treatment along with being a part of the video modelling intervention plan. In order to make the study more valid and appropriate, the participants were divided into different groups depending upon the questionnaire. The obtained results were generalized and correlated with the findings and circumstances in question. The research was based on a group survey approach. A group was then selected with relevant interest. The opinions of these selected groups of people were recorded. Detailed analysis of the result was of prime importance for reaching the objective of the study. Proper analysis of results included identification of entities that are of utmost importance in the application of video modelling based interventional treatment plan. The participants were randomly selected from an Autism centre due to time constraints which did not allow selecting participants from multiple centres. The selected autism centre was a local Enterprise which had video modelling as an important part of the treatment program. The cause and effect integration was recorded during the survey, it was the recognition of the levels of influence. It also depicted the relevance of application of an observation method of collecting data. The conducted survey could have been used as a prelude to many other researches. The study was bound to be explanatory in nature as it included the responses of the voluntary respondents. The entire study largely depended on these responses. The probability of errors was also recorded as some of the participants required much detailed clarifications about some questions and research activities.
Thirty four supervisors, including four males and thirty females participated in the survey. All the participants were educated enough to understand the study, its methodology and outcomes. Twenty three of the supervisors were employed full time by the agency and the remaining were part time employees. On an average, each supervisor had eleven clients suffering with autism spectrum disorder under his domain.
There were seventy eight direct participants of the survey, which included thirteen males and sixty five females. Almost all the participants were well qualified for the purpose of the study. Out of the 34 supervisors, 10 agreed using video modelling and the other 22 reported that they were not using video modelling with their clients of autism, the remaining 2 supervisors did not respond to the question. In addition to that, some supervisors also reported that the direct providers with whom they were working were also using these interventions, whereas other 28 supervisors reported that they were not supervising direct providers’ use of this interventional plan.
Among the direct providers, 20 reported using video Modelling and 53 disagreed to using video modelling with their clients of autism, the remaining 6 provider did not respond to the question. The supervisors were further ordered to report on their competency in using the video modelling with client of autism. Most of the supervisors, (almost 90%) who supported video modelling with clients of Autism agreed that they felt competent to deliver video modelling; however, one of them was uncertain about the level of competency in delivering video modelling with the clients of autism.
The direct providers were also asked to report their competency levels in using the video modelling with clients of autism. Out of the 20 providers who supported the use of video modelling, 1 gave an uncertain answer, 14 agreed and the rest of them agreed strongly.
Future studies should be more focused on discovering the effectiveness of video modelling combined with the therapeutic practices which are considered to be ideal for the demonstration of the unique delivery of this method. Further research is recommended for studying the fidelity of the intervention, the generalized influence and social validity in the development of the study.
The studies thus supported the belief that video modelling can be used as an efficient method of teaching the children suffering with autism. This study has considered the viewpoints of the different care providers dealing with such patients. It also took into consideration the fact if the care providers found it feasible enough to teach the children with the video modelling. The study hence brings the use of video modelling as a tool for teaching the children with autism a step further. The research proved the efficacy of the method in improving the behavioural skills among these children. It has been a milestone towards the development of teaching techniques for them. The research has added another method of teaching these children and improving them so that they can face the world like normal children without much hindrance. Video modelling has been established as an effective tool in this regard. It helped the children learn behavioural skills without becoming a burden to the teacher. They can view the videos any number of times as per their convenience and take their own time in learning the skills for a better future for them. The study has therefore supported the conventional belief that video modelling can help the autistic children in learning. The study has provided more strength to this fact with the help of the obtained results.
