Campus Access Only

All rights reserved. This publication is intended for use solely by faculty, students, and staff of University of the Pacific. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, now known or later developed, including but not limited to photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author or the publisher.

Date of Award

2011

Document Type

Thesis - Pacific Access Restricted

Degree Name

Master of Arts (M.A.)

Department

Music Therapy

First Advisor

Felin Hsiao

First Committee Member

Ruth V. Brittin

Second Committee Member

Matthew P. Normand

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of music-based peer mediation interventions to enhance the quality of social interaction for high school students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Specifically, it assessed whether adolescents with ASD demonstrate a difference in group participation, eye contact, and smile with peers within a music therapist mediated or a peer mediated instrumental music improvisation group.

Two groups consisting of one high school student with ASD and one or two general education peers were evaluated using an alternating treatment design with an initial baseline phase. Partial interval recording was used to measure social interaction within each condition.

Both students demonstrated a high level of group participation in music sessions. One student demonstrated eye contact and group participation behavior that was distinctly higher than was demonstrated during baseline. Social validity reports suggested that both students with ASI) were more motivated to participate in the music groups than in other structured social activities at school. There was no marked difference observed in level of group participation demonstrated by cither student with ASD between the music therapist mediated condition and the peer mediated condition. Implications for future research and clinical applications arc discussed.

Pages

126

To access this thesis/dissertation you must have a valid pacific.edu email address and log-in to Scholarly Commons.

Find in PacificSearch

Share

COinS

If you are the author and would like to grant permission to make your work openly accessible, please email

 

Rights Statement

Rights Statement

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).