فصلنامه روان شناسی افراد استثنایی
پیاپی 23 (پاییز 1395)

This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of mobile-assisted instruction on learning, achievement motivation and cooperation of students with visual impairment in English language courses. This was a quasi-experimental study implemented on high school female students (grade 2) with visual impairment in Iran. The sample consisted of 52 students with visual impairment (26 in experimental group and 26 in control group) who voluntarily took the test. In the experimental group, in addition to regular classroom instructions, classroom activities were done using the student's mobile-phones, while the control group was only offered the classic method. To collect data, Abdekhodaee Achievement Motivation Questionnaire, the Researcher-Made Cooperation Questionnaire, and the Researcher-Made English Test were used. To analyze data, covariance analysis was used. The findings revealed that mobile-assisted instruction had a positive impact on increasing learning, achievement motivation and the cooperation of students with visual impairment in English language courses. So, the three hypotheses were confirmed. Therefore, it is concluded that mobile-phones can be utilized to help students with visual impairment in English language courses. This study was done in Iran for the first time, so the results can be a road-map for instructional designers, educational technology students, special education experts and teachers to use mobile-phones purposefully in education.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between executive function with sensory processing patterns in 7-12 year old children with autism, from the teacher's perspective.
This study was a correlational design. After reviewing entry criteria, fifty 7 to 12 year old children were selected using purposive sampling method. Dunn Sensory Profile (school component) was used to assess sensory processing patterns and Behavioral Rating Inventory of Executive Functions was used to assess executive functions. For analyzing data, descriptive statistics (frequency distribution, mean and standard deviation) and Pearson correlation was used.
The results showed that there was a significant negative correlation between the sensory processing patterns with executive functions in autistic children (P The findings of this study suggest that we can use sensory processing interventions to improve executive functions in autism disorder.

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of the integrative training program consisted of a direct instruction and phonological awareness, compared with phonology and direct instruction programs on reading skills, and working memory in the first grade girl students with reading problems (RP). This study used pretest-posttest and follow-up sessions with experimental and control groups. Sixty girl students with RP were recruited through the purposeful sampling method (n = 15 in 4 groups), and the experimental groups were taught during 13 eighty-minute sessions. Measuring instruments included Diagnostic Reading Test, Phonological Awareness Test, Wechsler Memory, and Raven's Matrices. Mixed MANOVA analysis revealed that the DI group had better improvement in RC and WM rather than the PA group, and the PA group had better improvement in PA. The integrative group had better improvement in both PA and forward memory compared with the other two groups. This is probably due to receiving both instructions at the same time. Accordingly, it is concluded that the integrative method can be used for students with RP.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of training based on acceptance and commitment on the meaningfulness of life and emotional self-disclosure among mothers of mentally retarded children. The research design was quasi experimental and pretest-posttest with control group. The population consisted of all mothers with mentally retarded children in special schools in Tabriz in the academic year of 2015-16. A sample of 40 women who received low scores in the Meaning in Life Questionnaire and Emotional Self-Disclosure Questionnaire were selected randomly through multistage sampling. Then, they were divided into two groups of experimental (20) and control (20). Data were analyzed using analysis of variance with repeated measures and post hoc test and SPSS software. The results showed that training based on acceptance and commitment was effective on increasing meaningfulness of life and emotional self-disclosure among mothers of mentally retarded children. The findings of this study showed that training based on acceptance and commitment can be used in educational strategies and can offer valuable guidelines to families, officials and experts.

The aim of the present study was to compare the loneliness in people with hearing impairment, vision impairment and normal people. The statistical population included all people with hearing impairment, vision impairment and normal people in Shiraz city. So, 116 subjects (32 with visual impairment, 21 with hearing impairment and 63 without impairment) were selected as sample size. People with hearing impairment and vision impairment were selected by purposeful sampling and normal people were chosen through multistage random sampling method. The measurement tool was Loneliness Scale. To analyze data ANOVA and MANOVA were used. The results showed that loneliness in people with hearing and vision impairment was significantly more than in normal people. Moreover, analysis of data about subscales revealed that in two subscales of loneliness, loneliness due to relationship with family and affective symptoms of loneliness, loneliness in people with hearing and vision impairment was significantly more than normal people. But, in one subscale (loneliness due to relationship with friends) there was no significant difference between people with hearing impairment, vision impairment and normal people. Due to the higher levels of loneliness in people with sensory impairments, it can be concluded that designing and implementing programs to reduce loneliness is a necessity for promoting mental health in these people.

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of independent learning program training on hyperactivity and attention-deficit symptoms among students suffering from ADHD. The research design was quasi-experimental with pretest-posttest and the control group. For this reason, thirty 10 to 12 year-old male students with ADHD were selected in the city of Shahreza through stratified random sampling method. Then, they were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. The students in the experimental group were taught by independent learning program training during twelve 45-minute sessions, but the control group received no training in this regard. Data were collected using the Connors Parent-Teacher Questionnaire to measure symptoms of ADHD and they were analyzed by MANCOVA. Findings indicated that independent learning program was significantly effective on ADHD (p

This research aimed to investigate the mediating role of the mother’s mindfulness and family resiliency on the relationship between child with autism spectrum disorder behavior problems and mother’s psychological well-being. Statistical populations of the study were mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder who were 3 to 16 years old in Tehran, Karaj and Qazvin cities. 170 mothers were selected through purposeful sampling. The research tools included Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), Ryff Scales of Psychological Well-Being (RSPWB-18), Five Facets Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), and Family Resilience Assessment Scale (FRAS). Path analysis showed that mother’s mindfulness and family resiliency played a mediating role in the relationship between child with autism spectrum disorder behavior problems and mother’s psychological well-being. So, it is suggested that psychotherapist not only pay enough attention to the problems of children with ASD but also consider their parent’s mental health, family circumstances and other available sources of support in the society for achieving a comprehensive view of the situation.

The aim of this study was comparing personality traits and defense mechanisms of delinquent boys in six categories of thievery, quarrel, drugs, murder, sexual abuse and abduction. The sample included 60 guilty boys resided in the correction and rehabilitation center in Tehran who were selected by accessible sampling method. NEO Questionnaire was used for assessing personality traits and Defense Style Mechanisms Questionnaire was used to assess defense mechanisms. Using one-way ANOVA and Tukey, the results showed significant differences in openness factor between thievery group with quarrel group and quarrel group with murder group but there was no difference between other groups. There were also significant differences in sublimation mechanism between thievery group with abduction group and abduction group with substance abusive group. Since there are significant differences between crimes that are accompanied by injury and death with other crimes, it is necessary to use different interventions for people with different crimes in Correction and Rehabilitation Centers.

Personality traits play a vital role in the quality of interpersonal relationships and family life. This study investigated the development of avoidant personality from childhood to adulthood and the marital interaction pathology of the men with avoidant personality disorder from their wive's perspectives.The development of this personality style was studied through studying related resources. To study the personality traits of these men in marital interactions semi-structured interviews were conducted with 9 women whose husbands had avoidant personality traits and who were selected by purposeful sampling. In analyzing data using thematic analysis, 14 characteristics were obtained which showed these men's characteristics in marital interactions. They included "withdrawal, insight without pondering, self-centeredness, poor self-concept, social phobia, talking inactivity, emotionally cold homes, behavioral passivity, sexual passivity, change aversion, marital burnout, compulsive perfectionism, passive-aggressive, sociable appearance". Since avoidant personality characteristics are both harmful to self and others, identifying and preventing the development of the disorder in children will promote the quality of interpersonal relationships and family life.