A program evaluation: Implementation of an abbreviated social skills program using folk literature in the regular classroom

Lara Beetham Monasch, Pace University

Abstract

Many demands are placed on families today as a result of hectic lifestyles, an increase in divorce rate, single-parenting, dual careers, and family mobility. Consequently, social skills are being concentrated on less and less by the family. In addition, schools are not taking the child with social and behavioral difficulties out of the regular classroom due to research questioning pull-out special education programs. Research has determined that successful attainment of important social skills helps a child become a well-adjusted adult. Therefore, a regular classroom, school-based social skills program can be a valuable tool in shaping the adults of tomorrow. The present investigation evaluates the effectiveness of an abbreviated social skills program, utilizing the curriculum from the Working Together: Building Social Skills Through Folk Literature program, in building social skills and decreasing behavior problems. This research utilizes a regular classroom setting of second, third, and fourth grade students. This project responds to the concern of teachers for more “regular education” children to receive instruction in social skills and the need for children to generalize social skills taught in their natural setting. A summary of pertinent developmental theories and social skill instructional techniques is followed by a detailed description of the abbreviated program. To evaluate this program, a pretest posttest design utilizing a program group and a waiting comparison group was utilized. Classroom teachers completed the Social Skills Rating Scale-Teacher form for 250 Westchester County, New York elementary students, prior to and after the social skills program was implemented in the Fall of 1996. ANOVAs were conducted to examine changes between pretest and posttest scores on the social skill and problem behavior variables. There were no significant changes in either social skills or problem behaviors as a result of the abbreviated social skills program. Implications and limitations of this research are presented, as well as indications for future research.

Subject Area

Developmental psychology|Social psychology|Curriculum development

Recommended Citation

Monasch, Lara Beetham, "A program evaluation: Implementation of an abbreviated social skills program using folk literature in the regular classroom" (2003). ETD Collection for Pace University. AAI3100075.
https://digitalcommons.pace.edu/dissertations/AAI3100075

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