Peer Tutoring versus Structured Interaction Activities: Effects on the Frequency and Topography of Peer Initiations

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Abstract
The present study focuses on two methods used to facilitate the social integration of autistic and autistic-like children in a school setting. Specifically, the interactive values of peer tutoring and structured interaction activities on the social initiations of nonhandicapped peers toward students with autism were measured. The nature of the initiations were coded either instructional or cooperative. Results revealed that nonhandicapped students assigned initially to a tutoring phase interacted at far lower rates than did students exposed to structured interactions. Conversely, the structured interaction activities produced the highest rates of cooperative initiations regardless of presentation sequence. The data are discussed in reference to implications for programs which will enhance the normalization process for children and youth with severe handicaps.