What is the study investigating?
- Children with ASD have a higher prevalence of mental health problems than typically developing children, including anxiety and low mood, disruptive, and repetitive behaviours. Research shows that severe social difficulties represent a cost to the NHS and social care across childhood and adulthood.
- Social Stories™ are purported to promote calmer classrooms with improved learning/better integration in special and mainstream education settings, and improved social behaviours. Within the research literature, it has been suggested that Social Stories™ can improve a range of behaviours including social interaction, decision making, reduced disruptive behaviours, tantrums and frustration in children with ASD.
- Numerous schools employ a Social Stories™ intervention despite the fact there is no clear evidence base for its effectiveness. This RCT aims to comprehensively address this deficit.