This study aimed to discover the effects of Picture Exchange Communication System application on the class participation behavior of the students with developmental disabilities.
With this aim, the study established the following research questions.
First, how does PECS affect the class participation behavior of the students with developmental disabilities?
Second, how does PECS affect the attention behavior to teacher of the students with developmental disabilities?
Third, how does PECS affect the activity participation behavior of the students with developmental disabilities?
Fourth, how does PECS affect the assignment accomplishment behavior of the students with developmental disabilities?
Fifth, Do effects of PECS stay even after its application ends?
The study selected three students with developmental disabilities who showed the difficulty in participating in the class by the communication in the elementary special school. The multiple probe design across subjects was used to demonstrate the intervention effect. The study execute each phase such as baseline 5-13 times, intervention 20 times and maintenance 3 times. PECS has been applied to students before class during 10 minutes 5 times a week and the class participation behavior is evaluated for class. Naturalistic observation was used to frequency recording during baseline, intervention, maintenance sessions.
The results of this study were as following.
First, the application of PECS had a positive effect on the class participation behavior of the students with developmental disabilities.
Second, the application of PECS had a positive effect on the attention behavior to teacher of the students with developmental disabilities.
Third, the application of PECS had a positive effect on the activity participation behavior of the students with developmental disabilities.
Fourth, the application of PECS had a positive effect on the assignment accomplishment behavior of the students with developmental disabilities.
Fifth, effects of PECS stay after its application ends.
Based on the results, the application of PECS had a positive effect on the class participation behavior(the attention behavior to teacher, the activity participation behavior, the assignment accomplishment behavior)of the students with developmental disabilities.