Occupational Therapists" Perceptions of using Behavioral Approaches with Children with Autism
Graduation Date
2010
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Document Form
Degree Name
Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy
Department
Occupational Therapy
Department or Program Chair
Ruth Ramsey, EdD, OTR/L
Thesis Advisor
Stacy Frauwirth, MS, OTR/L
Second Advisor
Ruth Ramsey, EdD, OTR/L
Abstract
The purpose of this research was to explore pediatric occupational therapists' perceptions of using behavioral approaches with children with autism. This study explored whether the levels of expertise or personal theories of occupational therapists affected the therapists' intervention approaches with children with autism. In addition, this study aimed to discover whether occupational therapists described behavioral approaches as being an appropriate occupational therapy frame of reference for children with autism.
This study utilized a sequential mixed-methods non-experimental descriptive design using a web-based survey and semi-structured interviews. Forty pediatric occupational therapists responded to the web-based survey, and three pediatric occupational therapists participated in the interview portion of this study.
A Oneway ANOVA did not reveal a significant difference in the mean number of behavioral methods used among the three levels of expertise [F(2.37) = 2.05. p = .14], A Oneway ANOVA revealed a significant difference in the number of behavioral methods used among the four types of training [F(3,36) = 5.17. p = .004], Two major issues were evident in the qualitative data: the perceived compatibility of behavioral methods with occupational therapy philosophy and scope of practice, and the impact of personal philosophy on clinical reasoning and decision making relative to the use of behavioral methods.
The majority of the survey participants and the interview participants reported using behavioral approaches. There is evidence that pediatric occupational therapists use behavioral approaches with children with autism, but not extensively. In addition, only certain behavioral approaches were identified as having value to occupational therapy practice.