Different Effects of Behavioral-Based Strategies for Sustaining Attention of an Elementary Student with Intellectual Disability

Abstract

<p>智能障礙學生常伴隨注意力缺陷等問題，導致學習歷程困難，影響學習表現和成就。根據國內外文獻和實務報告，為改善注意力與學習問題，兩個常見的行為策略為：（一）增加專注口語提示策略，及（二）暫時移除偏好的教材刺激。然而，國內研究鮮少比較行為策略對於注意力的成效，也缺乏融合應用多媒體動畫影片教材，因此，本研究旨在針對智能障礙伴隨注意力缺陷學生在學習多媒體動畫影片教材時，這兩種行為策略對於學生注意力時間之影響，並比較兩種策略的成效差異。</p> <p>本研究採用單一受試實驗研究法之交替比較設計，針對一位就讀於國小集中式特教班，並經醫療診斷為智能障礙伴隨注意力缺陷的學生，藉由交替設計比較教學者於自然情境中執行上述兩種行為策略時學生注意力維持時間的變化，以呈現自然教學場域中的真實樣貌。研究過程分為基線期、交替介入期，以及最佳介入期，研究數據採取單一受試研究法之視覺分析探究成效。</p> <p>研究結果顯示，研究對象在交替介入期間，無論使用哪種行為策略，注意力維持時間皆高於基線期不使用任何介入策略的情境，並達六次成效複製，顯示兩者對於改善注意力的維持皆具有功能關係，其中，暫時移除偏好的教材刺激策略優於增加專注口語提示策略之成效，為該研究對象之最佳介入策略。</p> <p> </p><p>Attention function is a multi-facet concept that is critical for learning. Students with intellectual disability (ID) are often accompanied by problems such as attention deficit, which leads to difficulties in the learning process and affects academic performance and achievement. According to related studies, in order to improve attention and learning problems, two common behavioral strategies are: (a) using verbal prompt for on-task attention, and (b) removing preferred stimulus. However, there are few domestic studies that compare the effectiveness of behavioral strategies on attention, and there is also a lack of integrated application of multimedia video teaching materials. Therefore, this study aims to explore the impact of these two behavioral strategies on sustaining attention time when ID students with attention deficit learn multimedia animation video teaching materials, and to compare the effectiveness of the two strategies.</p> <p>This was a single subject research using alternating treatment design to compare the two behavioral-based strategies implemented by the student’s teacher in natural educational setting. It focuses on a participant who is studying in a self-contained special education class in an elementary school and has been medically diagnosed with intellectual disability and attention deficit. The research process is divided into baseline, intervention, and better intervention phases. The research data adopts visual analysis of single subject research method to explore the effectiveness.</p> <p>The results of the study showed that during the alternating intervention phases, no matter which behavioral strategies was used, the attention maintenance time of the research participant was higher than that of the baseline phases when no intervention strategy was used, and the effect was replicated six times, showing that both are effective in improving attention. There is a functional relationship between them. Among them, the strategy of temporarily removing the preferred teaching material stimulus is more effective than adding the strategy of focusing on verbal prompts, and is the best intervention strategy for this research participant. Social validity survey also indicated that teachers and parent were satisfied with the intervention outcome.</p> <p> </p>