LE3 .A278 2012

2012

Seaman, Roxanne

Acadia University

Bachelor of Kinesiology

Honours

Kinesiology

Kinesiology

The purpose was to study and observe children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in structured and unstructured physical activity and determine how these types of physical activity settings affected the stereotypical behaviours of the children with ASD. This was done simultaneously alongside a research study whose aim was to implement a fundamental movement skill program for children with ASD. Participants included one five-year-old and two seven-year-olds. A single case study design was used for this study. Data were collected periodically by systematic observation and field notes during an eight week period in the fall school semester. Once a week, for eight weeks, participants would attend the program and take part in both structured physical activity in the form of an obstacle course, and unstructured physical activity in the form of free play. The observer watched the children participate in physical activity and recorded instances of the participants’ stereotypical behaviours. A plus (+) sign indicated the presence of stereotypical behaviour and a minus (-) sign indicated the absence of stereotypical behaviour. The chart focused on 23 behaviours and was adapted from a study by Levinson and Reid (1993). It was found that the participants’ stereotypical behaviours were seen less in the structured physical activity than in the unstructured free play physical activity; however the participants varied in their levels of decrease. These results are consistent with previous literature that show that a structured physical activity program can reduce the presence of stereotypical behaviors in children with ASD. These results indicate that children with ASD will benefit most from physical activity programs that include a structured physical activity aspect.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:904