Comparison of the effectiveness of role playing and storytelling on independent life skills and self-expression of intellectually disabled students (single subject research)

The purpose of this research was to compare the effectiveness of role-playing and storytelling on independent life skills and self-expression of intellectually disabled students (single subject study). The current research was experimental research with a single-subject design in terms of its practical purpose and in terms of its method. The statistical population of the present study was made up of all vocational students with mental disabilities in Bafaq city in 1401, from whom 6 people were selected by available sampling method, in the role-playing group (2 people) and storytelling (2 people) and the control group (2 people) were placed. The people of the experimental groups received role-playing and storytelling training during Ten one-hour sessions. All these six people completed Behrad's independent living skills questionnaire (1384) and Schering's self-expression questionnaire (1980) during the baseline, the third, sixth and eighth sessions (the last session of the intervention). Data analysis was done using percentage recovery index and graphical review of figures. The results showed that the subjects of the experimental groups experienced moderate and significant improvement in independent living skills and self-expression from the baseline stage to the end of the treatment. While the subjects of the control group did not have a significant increase or decrease in score during this period. Also, the comparison of the effectiveness of the two treatments showed that the subjects of the role-playing group were more effective in independent life skills and self-expression compared to the story therapy group. Based on the results of the present research, it can be seen that role-playing and storytelling training is effective on the independent life skills and self-expression of mentally retarded students and should be considered by counselors and psychologists in rehabilitation programs