The Effectiveness of a Training Program using the Computer in Developing some Social Concepts and Healthy Behaviors in Children with Down Syndrome

Research Abstract

Introduction Showing an interest in individual with special needs generally and in individual with mental handicap specially is deemed an indicator of the progress and development in any nation. Furthermore, having an interest in providing all prerequisite means, pathways and tools considerably contributes in alleviating suffering of such category. Down syndrome is one of the well-known syndromes among the mental handicap categories; and this is attributed to multiple causes, most important of which is their distinguished physical and clinical features, big percentage of their spread in comparison with other mental handicap categories, not to mention; this category members can't carry out some everyday activities without assistance of other surrounding people; such as the self –care in terms of hygiene, food eating or clothing wearing in addition to avoiding the surrounding risks and following safety and security rules; consequently they are in dire need of non – stop care; in order to adapt to the surrounding environment and of developing the social concepts; so as to be able to deal with the surrounding people, positively interact with other people and share the different social situations with them. Problem of the study There are many studies affirming that mentally handicapped children possess some behaviors which are in need of modification plus that they need to develop plenty of concepts which enable them to adapt to the surrounding community where they live and adjust to their normal peers, especially because there are a lot of schools which apply inclusion of children with special needs in regular schools; furthermore based upon reviewing the previous research and studies, the researcher conducted a host of visitations for the mental education school located in the governorate and did personal interviews with parents; so that she could reach the most salient concepts and behaviors in need of development, not to mention the researcher conducted this study in order to develop some social concepts and healthy behaviors in the children with Down syndrome. So this study tries to answer the following main question: What is the effect of a training program using the computer in developing some social concepts and healthy behaviors in children with Down syndrome? Off this main question branch the following sub – questions: 1- Are there statistically significant differences among the experimental group members' scores on the healthy behavior scale of the children with Down syndrome in the pre – post measurements? 2- Are there statistically significant differences among the experimental group members' scores on the social concept scale of the children with Down syndrome in the pre – post measurements? 3- Are there statistically significant differences among the experimental group members' scores on the social concept scale of the children with Down syndrome in the post and following up measurements? 4- Are there statistically significant differences among the experimental group members' scores on the healthy behavior scale of the children with Down syndrome in the post and following up measurements? Objectives of the study 1- Identifying effectiveness of a training program using the computer in developing some social concepts and healthy behaviors in children with Down syndrome. 2- Making sure of effectiveness of using the computer in developing some social concepts and healthy behaviors in children with Down syndrome. Significance of the study Significance of the study unfolds as following First: Theoretical significance 1- The study derives its significance from the topic of giving much care for the individuals with special needs; because they represent a segment of our society. 2- The following study may be regarded as one of the contributions in the concept development field especially the social concepts in children with Down syndrome. 3- This study contributes in benefitting those interested in the field of providing care for the children with Down syndrome through gaining them some healthy behaviors. Second: Practical significance 1- Benefitting from the study findings in preparing programs of concept development for other groups. 2- Alleviating acuity of some other problems in children with Down syndrome. 3- Realizing significance of the training program in developing the concepts either in the special categories or in the normal ones. Community of the study The study community was comprised of (6) children with Down syndrome in the group age ranged between 8 years and 12 years with average age 10 years and standard deviation amounting to 1,27. Approach of the study The researcher used the experimental approach of the one group design; due to smallness of the study community sample for identifying effectiveness of the training program using the computer in developing some social concepts and healthy behaviors in children with Down syndrome. Delimitations of the study Place Delimitations The training program was applied in Kayan Society for Children with special needs based in Beni – Suef governorate. Time Delimitations The researcher applied the training program during the period ranging from 1/3 till 30/40, namely for two running months, five sessions each week. Each session takes 45 minutes. Instruments of the study The researcher used the following instruments: 1- The Stanford-Binet, Fourth Edition (Arabized and standardized by Louise Kamel Malika, 1998). 2- Scale of Cultural Economic Social Level (Developed) for the Egyptian family (prepared by Mr. Mohammed Bioumy Khalil, 2000). 3- Electronic pictorial social concept scale (prepared by the researcher). 4- Electronic pictorial healthy behaviors scale (prepared by the researcher). 5- A training program using the computer (prepared by the researcher). Hypotheses of the study 1- There are statistically significant differences among the experimental group members' scores in the pre – post measurements of the social concepts in favor of the post measurement. 2- There are statistically significant differences among the experimental group members' scores in the pre – post measurements of the healthy behaviors in favor of the post measurement. 3- There are no statistically significant differences among the experimental group members' scores in the post and following up measurements of the social concepts. 4- There are no statistically significant differences among the experimental group members' scores in the post and following up measurements of the healthy behaviors. Statistical Methods The statistical methods which were used to reach findings of this study were the following non - parametric methods: 1- Mann – Whitney Test (U). 2- Wilcoxon Test (W). 3- Z Value Findings of the study The study reached the following conclusions: 1- There are statistically significant differences among the experimental group members' scores in the pre – post measurements of the social concepts in favor of the post measurement. 2- There are statistically significant differences among the experimental group members' scores in the pre – post measurements of the healthy behaviors in favor of the post measurement. 3- There are no statistically significant differences among the experimental group members' scores in the post and following up measurements of the social concepts. 4- There are no statistically significant differences among the experimental group members' scores in the post and following up measurements of the healthy behaviors. Abstract Researcher's Name: Asmaa Mohammed Zein Study's Title: The Effectiveness of a Training Program using the Computer in Developing some Social Concepts and Healthy Behaviors in Children with Down Syndrome Academic Degree: Master's Degre Study Institution: Psychology and Mental Health Department, Faculty of Education, Beni – Suef University Abstract The study sought to identify the effectiveness of a training program using the computer in developing some social concepts and healthy behaviors in children with Down syndrome in Beni –Suef governorate. The study sample community was comprised of (6) children with Down syndrome whose ages ranged between 8 years and 12 years with average age amounting to 10 years and a standard deviation amounting to 1,27. The researcher used the following instruments: the pictorial social concept scale (prepared by the researcher), the pictorial healthy behaviors scale (prepared by the researcher) and the training program using the computer (prepared by the researcher). Furthermore, the following statistical methods were used: Mann – Whitney Test (U) and Wilcoxon Test (W) to determine significance of differences amongst correlated scores. The statistical processing was carried out using SPSS. The study came to that there are statistically significant differences among the experimental group members' scores in the pre – post measurements of the social concepts and the healthy behaviors in favor of the post measurement. There are statistically significant differences among the experimental group members' scores in the pre – post measurements of the healthy behaviors in favor of the post measurement and there are no statistically significant differences among the experimental group members' scores in the post and following up measurements of the social concepts and the healthy behaviors. Key Words: Social Concepts, Healthy Behaviors, Children with Down Syndrome

Research Keywords

برنامج تدريبى - المفاهيم الاجتماعية - متلازمة دون