
Study Conducted in 2009

Lead Researchers: Blythe Corbett, Joan Gunther & Dan Comins
◦ University of California, Davis

Results Published in Journal of Autism Development Disorders
(2010)
Major Components of Learning Deficit:
Difficulty understanding other individual’s thoughts &
feelings
Difficulty perceiving and understanding emotions
Limited ability to empathize
Poor communication skills
 Peer Mediation
 Active Learning
 Supportive Environment
 Practice Key to Success
Children with autism spectrum
disorders would show improvement
in social-emotional skills from
participating in a peer-mediated
musical theatrical program.


Pretest – Posttest Design
Evaluated changes in 3 neuropsychological
measures

8 Children (7 boys, 1 girl)

Age Range: 6-17 (M = 13.86, SD = 3.49)

IQ Score Range: 62 – 102 (M = 82.36. SD = 16.44)
Autistic children paired with normally developing
peer actors
 Role of peer actors:
◦ Serve as peer models & co-stars in a musical
performance
◦ Perform peer’s role for video modeling

Rehearsals
3
months
 Rehearsal
schedule increased gradually from 1
day to 4 a week
 Held
in supportive environment
Neuropsychological Results
Mean Change (+/- 1 SD)
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Matching Faces
Affect Recognition
PreTest
Post Test
Theory of Mind

2 of the 3 measures produced statistically significant results:
◦ Matching Faces [t(7) = -2.62, p = 0.034]
◦ Theory of Mind [t(7) = -2.73, p = 0.034]
Need More Robust Follow Up Study

Larger sample required

Control group

Participants need to stop other interventions