Behavioral interventions for teaching perspective-taking skills: A scoping review

Abstract

This scoping review examines 29 experimental studies on behavioral interventions aimed at teaching perspective-taking (PT) skills, identified through a comprehensive search strategy (PROSPERO: CRD42021252722) and adhering to the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. The review aimed to (1) identify PT enhancement protocols and their components, (2) assess behavioral measures of protocol efficacy, and (3) describe demographic, bibliometric, and ethical study characteristics. Key findings include a diversity in PT conceptualization aligned with two main theoretical approaches, the Non-Derived and the Derived Response approach, which can hinder comparability. Despite methodological differences, common teaching strategies such as prompting, modeling, and differential reinforcement are prevalent. The results indicate a notable shift from the Non-Derived to the Derived Response approach over time. Most participants were boys under ten with autism or other neurodivergences, and Single-Subject Designs were predominant. Additionally, many studies did not report the geographical origins of participants, which is crucial for understanding the cultural context in perspective-taking research. There were also notable shortcomings in some methodological and ethical aspects, including the lack of participant diversity, insufficient assent from minors, and inadequate reporting of social validity and conflict of interest. The review underscores the need for improved methodological rigor and ethical standards to enhance study comparability and replicability. Future research should calculate effect sizes to provide quantitative measures of intervention effectiveness, thereby advancing the field's understanding of the practical implications of behavioral interventions for PT skills.