Relationships between preschoolers' attitudes and play behaviors toward classmates with disabilities

Yu, Seon Yeong

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/29646 Copy

Description

Title

Relationships between preschoolers' attitudes and play behaviors toward classmates with disabilities

Author(s)

Yu, Seon Yeong

Issue Date

2012-02-06T20:08:34Z

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

• Ostrosky, Michaelene M.
• Fowler, Susan A.

Committee Member(s)

• Santos Gilbertz, Rosa Milagros
• Favazza, Paddy C.

Department of Study

Special Education

Discipline

Special Education

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Degree Level

Dissertation

Keyword(s)

• Disability
• attitude
• play behavior
• inclusion

Abstract

This study examined the relationships between 32 typically developing preschoolers’ attitudes and play behaviors toward their classmates with disabilities or developmental delays. Children’s attitudes toward peers with disabilities were assessed using three different methods: child interviews, Sociometric Peer Ratings, and a Social Acceptance Scale. Children’s play behaviors (e.g., solitary, onlooker, parallel play, associative/cooperative play) and teachers’ involvement in children’s play were also observed during free play over a 10-week period. Results show that children’s identification of a classmate with an IEP as having a disability was negatively related to their associaitve/cooperative (AC) play with the classmate. Typically developing children’s sociometric ratings of classmates with disabilities were positively related to their AC play with the classmates with disabilities. In addition, children’s sociometric peer ratings were a stronger indicator of whether a typically developing child would play with a classmate with a disability than was identification of a classmate as having a disability. Suggestions for future research and implications for practices are discussed.

Graduation Semester

2011-12

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/29646

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2011 Seon Yeong Yu

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