Application of self-instruction in modifying the handwriting of students with specific learning disorder

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Professor of Psychology, University of Tehran

2 Corresponding Author: Assistant Professor of Psychology, University of Tehran

3 MA of Educational Psychology, University of Tehran

Abstract

The current investigation describes the application of self-instruction method and its effectiveness on improving the handwriting of students with specific learning disabilities in elementary school. To do so, three individuals with dysgraphia from a school in Marivan City were selected (two male, and one female). These students referred to Learning Disabilities Center. These students were tested by handwriting problems Test developed by the investigators and useful diagnosing handwriting problems. Design of the study was Multiple baseline cross behaviors, one of the strongest experimental designs in single subject studies. Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R) was used to ascertain their Level of intellectual functioning. To analyze the data, scale analysis and size index were used. Intervention consisted of ten 50-minute sessions in which application of self-instruction method was used. Results showed that application of self-instruction method was effective in modifying their handwriting Problems. Teachers can use this method in school setting to enhance handwriting of students with specific learning disabilities.  

Keywords


امیدوار، احمد (1385).  نارسایی ویژه در یادگیری، تهران: انتشارات ژیان.
سرمد، زهره؛ بازرگان، عباس و حجازی، الهه (1387). روش‌های تحقیق در علوم رفتاری. تهران: انتشارات آگاه.
غباری بناب‌، باقر و نصرتی، فاطمه (1393). روش‌های نوین تدریس علوم تجربی و ریاضی به دانش‌آموزان با کم‌توانی‌های هوشی- تحولی.  تهران: انتشارات دانشگاه تهران.
Bandura, A. (2005).The primacy of self-regulation in health promotion. Journal of Applied Psychology, 2: 245-54.
Berninger, V. W., Vaughan, K. B., Abbott, R. D., Abbott, S. P, Woodruff Rogan, L., Brooks, A., Reed, E., & Graham, S. (1997). Treatment of handwriting problems in beginning writers: Transfer from handwriting to composition. Journal of Educational Psychology, 89, 652–666.
Dembo, M. H. (1994). Motivation and learning strategies for college success, a self-management approach. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc., Publishers, Mahwah, New Jersey 07430-2262  
Hallahan, D. P., Lloyd, J. W., Kauffman, J. M., Weiss, M., & Martinez, E. (2004). Learning Disabilities: Foundations, Characteristics and Effective Teaching(3rd Edition). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
Hamstra-Bletz, E., de Bie, J., & den Brinker, B. P. L. M. (1987). Beknopte beoordelings methode voor kinderhandschriften: Experimentele versie[The concise assessment scale for children’s handwriting: Experimental version]. Lisse: Swets & Zeitlinger.
Jongmans, M. J., Lintherst-Bakker, E, B., Vonne Westenberg, Y., Smits-Engelsman, B. C. M. (2003). Use of a task-oriented self-instruction method to support children in primary school with poor handwriting quality and speed, human movement science, 22(4-5)549-566.
Marti, G., & Pear, J. (1992). Behavior modification: What it is and how: to do it (4th ed.). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
McHale, K., & Cermak, S. A. (1992). Fine motor activities in elementary school: Preliminary findings and provisional implications for children with fine motor problems. American Journal of Occupational  Therapy, 46, 898–903.
Meichenbaum, D. (1978).Cognitive-behavior modification: An integrative approach. New York: Plenum Press.
Omidvar, A. (2008). Special Disability in learning, Tehran: Jian. [Persian].
Reid, G. (2003). Dyslexia: A practitioner handbook. 3rd edition. Chichester: Wily.
Sarmad, Z, Bazargan Harandi, A and Hejazi Moghari, E. (2007). Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences. Tehran: Agah. [Persian].
Smits- Engelsman, B. C. M. (1995). Theory-based diagnosis of fine motor coordination development and deficiencies using handwriting tasks. Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Smits-Engelsman, B. C. M., Niemeijer, A. S., & van Galen, G. P. (2001). Fine motor deficiencies in children diagnosed as DCD based on poor graph-motor ability. Human Movement Science, 20, 161–182.
Vygotsky, L. (1978). Interaction between learning and development. From: Mind and Society (pp. 79-91). Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Westwood, Peter S. (2003). Commonsense methods for children with special need: strategies for the regular classroom. Education department of South Australia.