Psychology of Exceptional Individuals

Abstract The purpose of this study was investigating the effectiveness of Reciprocal Imitation Training (RIT) on reducing symptoms of children with autism disorder.Twenty four autistic children (30-54 months old) were selected from a rehabilitation center in Tehran and assigned randomly in to two equal groups of experimental and control groups. The experimental group received 70 sessions (3 days per week, 20 minutes for each session) of RIT through the intervention. The GARZ questionnaire was used as the pre-test and the post-test for the two groups. ANCOVA analysis showed that there were significant differences between mean scores of autisticsymptoms (social interaction, communication and stereotype movements) in two groups. This study provides evidence for the effectiveness of naturalistic behavioral interventionfor improving autistic symptoms in young autistic children.

Abstract  
The purpose of this research was conducting a comparison of achievement motivation rate in students with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), consumers and non-consumers of Ritalin, as well as normal students. in this causal-comparative research, the samples were recruited from the students who were studying in the 5^th and 6^th grades of elementary public schools in district 8 of Tehran. These students were chosen based on the cluster sampling method and they were divided into three different groups. The Hermans’s Achievement Motivation Questionnaire was applied, and the results were analyzed by ANOVA. The results indicated that there were significant differences in the achievement motivation rate among these three groups. It was revealed that the normal students had the most achievement motivation rate. The students with ADHD who took Ritalin had a higher achievement motivation level than those with ADHD who did not take Ritalin. It can be inferred that consuming Ritalin can lead to an increase in theachievement motivation in the students with ADHD.
 

Abstract The purpose of this research was to investigate the comparative study of the effectiveness of social stories with humanistic and inanimate content on participation and cooperation of children with Asperger's syndrome (AS). The method of this research was single subject design (AB). The statistical population included all the children with AS in Tehran who were selected through accessible simple sampling. Then 4 children with high-functioning autism were chosen. The research tools included the Social Skill Questionnaire (SSRS) and social stories. Using the SSRS, the data and pretest and posttest scores were calculated. The participants’ progress was determined with the progress percentage formula. The results revealed that both social story interventions with humanistic and inanimate content were effective. However, social stories with inanimate content were more effective than those with humanistic content that can have roots in neurological aspects and the personalities of autistic children. It is suggested that social stories with inanimate content can be used in teaching/educating autistic children.

Abstract The purpose of this study
was to investigateFactorial Structureand
Psychometric Properties of Nadeau
College-level ADHD Questionnaire-thePersian Version for Iranian university students. 612 students were selected from the population of undergraduate
students in ShahidBeheshti University through proportional random sampling. These students filled out thePersian version of Nadeau College-level
ADHD Questionnaire. To analyze the data,
Cronbach's alpha coefficient and exploratory factor analysis were used.
Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the whole questionnaire was 0.96. In the exploratory factor analysis of
this questionnaire, by
analyzing the principal components, 9 factors were extracted: memory,
organization, anxiety, aggression, academic performance, inattention,
hyperactivity/impulsivity, having conflict tendencies, and self-regulation.
Cronbach's alpha coefficient for extracted factors was between 0.74 to 0.90,
and for the whole questionnaire it was 0.97. This showed an acceptable reliability in Persian
version of the questionnaire. Also, the high correlation coefficient among
factors and the whole questionnaire,revealedappropriate structural validity of the questionnaire. Finally, by eliminating 25 items, the Persian
version with 100 items and 9 factors was extracted. This test had an appropriate reliability and validity for Iranian undergraduate
students and it can be used to
measure Attention-Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder.

Abstract The purpose of this study was investigating the effectiveness of Reciprocal Imitation Training (RIT) on reducing symptoms of children with autism disorder.Twenty four autistic children (30-54 months old) were selected from a rehabilitation center in Tehran and assigned randomly in to two equal groups of experimental and control groups. The experimental group received 70 sessions (3 days per week, 20 minutes for each session) of RIT through the intervention. The GARZ questionnaire was used as the pre-test and the post-test for the two groups. ANCOVA analysis showed that there were significant differences between mean scores of autisticsymptoms (social interaction, communication and stereotype movements) in two groups. This study provides evidence for the effectiveness of naturalistic behavioral interventionfor improving autistic symptoms in young autistic children.

Abstract The aim of this research was to survey the effectiveness of positivism group training program on increasinghappinessandhardiness among mothers of blind children. The research method was semi-experimental one, based on pretest - posttest with control group. Statistical population included all the mothers who had a blind childin the city of Tehran. These children were studying in blinds schools of Tehran. The sample included 30 mothers of fore mentioned population. These mothers were selected according topurposeful sampling method and they were randomly assigned into two groups (15 in experimental group and 15 in control group). The experimental group was taught positivism in 10 sessions. The subjects in experimental and control group were assessed in 2 stages (pretest and posttest) by happinessandhardiness questionnaire. The achieved data were analyzed by the covariance analytical statistic method. The research results showed that positivism group training program was effective on increasing happinessandhardiness among mothers who had a blind child (P≤0.05). The people with more hardiness have higher levels of happiness.

Abstract The purpose of the present study was to compare
moral judgment in students with and without intellectual disability in Shiraz. The
research method was causal-comparative, and the statistical population included
the secondary students with and without intellectual disability ageing 16 years
old. The sample size was 160 students (80 with intellectual disability and 80
without intellectual disability). These students were selected by a cluster sampling
method. The Moral Judgment Scale was used to measure moral judgment. The
collected data were analyzed by t-test, MANOVA and two-way ANOVA. The results
indicated that there was a significant difference between the two groups in the
total scores of moral judgment and its dimensions (p<0.01). Also, the results
showed that there were no significant differences between males and females in this
respect (p>0.05).According to the findings, it is suggested that any plan to
promote and internalize students' moral values ​​must be considered based on
their cognitive development level, because there is a relationship between
moral and cognitive development of students.

Abstract The theory of mind describes the ability of predicting and attributing mental states of self and others; and is essential for one’s social interaction. Previous studies show that intellectually disabled children have deficient and immature theory of mind. The present study wants to survey the effectiveness of training mental states on acquisition and promotion of theory of mind of students with intellectual disabilities. In this semi-experimental study, 60 intellectually disabled male and female students were selected by the multiple cluster sampling method in the city of Tehran. These students were randomly assigned into two groups: 30 students (15 boys and 15 girls) were placed in the experimental group and 30 others (15 boys and 15 girls) were placed in the control group. To assess the theory of mind the 38-Item Theory of Mind Test, and unexpected task, were used for both groups in pretest and posttest. The experimental group received nine sessions of training mental states, and the control group used normal school education. To analyze the data, covariance was used. The results revealed that the scores of theory of mind in experimental group was significantly higher than the control group (p<0.05). Training mental states is effective on acquiring and promoting the theory of mind in intellectually disabled students.

Abstract This study investigated the relationship between emotional insight and attachment styles of intelligent and normal students in Zahedan. It was an applied research using field study method. Among all intelligent and normal students of a high school in Zahedan, 120 intelligent students and 120 normal students were chosen by simple random sampling method. To collect data, the questionnaire for emotional insight features and the revised questionnaire of a dual attachment scale were used which were developed by Collins and Read. t-test results showed that there was a significant difference between intelligent and normal students in their emotional insight; in other words, the emotional insight of intelligent students was more than that in normal students. Also the secure attachment style in intelligent students was more than that in normal students, but the dual and avoidance attachment styles in normal students was more than that in intelligent students. Pearson correlation method showed that there was a significant difference between emotional insight and secure attachment of normal and intelligent students; on the other hand, there was a direct relationship between emotional insight and secure attachment. Also, there was a reversed relationship between avoidance attachment and emotional insight.: It can be concluded that intelligent students had a better secure attachment, and this attachment style in normal students can be improved through exercise and training.

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