Impact of Collaborative Ipad Game on Joint Engagement for Children with Social Skills Deficits

Background:  The need for evidence-based research on technology for students with autism is paramount.  Joint Engagement often requires the support of adults.   The iPad provides a cost effective and mobile opportunity to address this core deficit.

Objectives:  This study investigated the impact of a collaborative computer game (Zody) on joint engagement on pairs of children with autism spectrum disorder.

Methods:   Six children with moderate to severe characteristics of autism were paired in 15 minutes sessions during a rotation of social skills instructions during school. This study involved a full reversal treatment design using a non-technical activity for pairs (Build Lego set) as the baseline condition and Zody, a collaborative iPad game designed to teach the core social skill needs of students with autism, as the treatment condition.  Joint engagement was measured by direct observation.  A momentary time sampling technique was used to capture the occurrence or non-occurrence of joint engagement at 10 seconds intervals. 

Results:  Results indicate differences between the baseline and treatment conditions as well as  generalization of treatment effects to the low structured condition. 

Conclusions:   Computer and video games can be used to encourage joint engagement in children with social skills deficits, particularly those with autism. However, additional design considerations should be taken into effect in future technologies, and larger-scale clinical trials should be conducted to validate these results.