Developing Social Competences in Students with Learning Disabilities

This quasi-experimental study explored the effects of social skills training on the social competence of students with learning disabilities. The study utilised 24 form three students with learning disabilities who had social skills deficits in two secondary schools. Data were obtained using two instruments. The Social Skills Assessment-Adolescent Version, a test developed by McGinnis and Goldstein in 1997 and the Merrell (2002) Social Behaviour Scales, Second Edition (SSBS-2). A Master Plan of Activities developed by the researcher was used as a guide during the social skills training programme. The quantitative data were subjected to descriptive and inferential statistical analysis using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 12. Descriptive statistics were used to present the distribution of subjects between and within subsets using frequencies, proportions and multiple response sets. The major findings obtained was that: Different social skills training techniques can be used to improve the social competency of students with learning disabilities.