A Systematic Review of Effects of Social Stories Interventions for Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Focus on Autism & Other Developmental Disabilities
Qi, C. H., Barton, E. E., et al. (2018).
Focus on Autism & Other Developmental Disabilities, 33(1), 25-34.
This meta-analysis investigaties the use of social story interventions in individuals on the autism spectrum.
No funding received
Prior to July 2013
Single-case experimental designs
22
The authors concluded that, according to the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) guidelines using visual analysis, social stories are not considered an evidence-based practice for individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Five percent of the studies (1/22) provided strong evidence of a causal relation, 27% of the studies (6/22) provided moderate evidence, and 68% of the studies (15/22) provided weak evidence of a causal relation. "However, social stories interventions are deemed evidence based according to nonoverlap indices as they met the 5-3-20 rule set by WWC" (p. 32).
Results indicated social stories to be effective or very effective in reducing inappropriate behavior with the following metrics:<ul> <li>Percentage of nonoverlapping data (PND): 100% </li> <li>Percentage exceeding the median (PEM): 92% </li> <li>Percentage of data exceeding the median trend line (PEM-T): 88% </li> <li>Pairwise data overlap squared (PDO2): 91%</li></ul>Results indicated mixed findings for social stories in increasing appropriate skills and behavior. Results varied between questionably effective (PEM 68%; PEM-T 58%) and effective (PND 71%; PDO2 72%). Mixed results were also noted for the use of social stories to increase social communication skills with findings ranging from questionable effective (PND 67%; PEM 67%; PEM-T 63%) to effective (PDO2 75%).
Results demonstrated variations among the included studies and social stories appeared effective for a large range (51% to 91%) of participating students with autism spectrum disorder. "This suggests that social stories might be more effective for some participants than for others" (p. 31).
