Early childhood represents a critical period for development of the social behaviors and language that make social competence possible. Demonstrating social competence and positive peer relationships before reaching kindergarten may enhance school functioning and early achievement once children enter the school setting (Costin & Jones, 1992; Gresham & Reschly, 1987; Ladd, 1990). Unfortunately, many children fail to naturally or adequately develop these important skills, heightening risk for future problems due to disability and factors such as poverty, abuse, and engagement with child welfare agencies (Guralnick & Groom, 1987; Fantuzzo et al., 1988; Mueller & Silverman, 1989; Campbell, 1990; Kopp, Baker, & Brown, 1992; Lieber, 1993; Webster-Stratton, 1997). This research is often cited as a justification for an increased focus on improving social competence as early as preschool (Gresham, 1981). The present study was an effort to synthesize published and unpublished research in order to determine whether social competence interventions are effective for young children with special needs. Results indicate that instructionally-based interventions are associated with small-to-moderate treatment effects. Diverse groups of young children have been the primary focus of this research, including those with emotional and behavioral problems and those at risk. Missing data and a failure to address generalization leave significant unanswered questions regarding the meaningful impact of such interventions on young children's quality of life.
","abstract_html":"<p>Early childhood represents a critical period for development of the social behaviors and language that make social competence possible. Demonstrating social competence and positive peer relationships before reaching kindergarten may enhance school functioning and early achievement once children enter the school setting (Costin & Jones, 1992; Gresham & Reschly, 1987; Ladd, 1990). Unfortunately, many children fail to naturally or adequately develop these important skills, heightening risk for future problems due to disability and factors such as poverty, abuse, and engagement with child welfare agencies (Guralnick & Groom, 1987; Fantuzzo et al., 1988; Mueller & Silverman, 1989; Campbell, 1990; Kopp, Baker, & Brown, 1992; Lieber, 1993; Webster-Stratton, 1997). This research is often cited as a justification for an increased focus on improving social competence as early as preschool (Gresham, 1981). The present study was an effort to synthesize published and unpublished research in order to determine whether social competence interventions are effective for young children with special needs. Results indicate that instructionally-based interventions are associated with small-to-moderate treatment effects. Diverse groups of young children have been the primary focus of this research, including those with emotional and behavioral problems and those at risk. Missing data and a failure to address generalization leave significant unanswered questions regarding the meaningful impact of such interventions on young children's quality of life.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Kennedy, Adam Steven"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)","degree_level":"Dissertation","degree_discipline":"School Psychology","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2010,"date_issued":"2010-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2010-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:55:08Z","subjects":["disabilities","intervention","preschool","social competence","social skills","special needs","Special Education and Teaching"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://ecommons.luc.edu/luc_diss/113","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Kennedy, Adam Steven"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2016-03-31T17:08:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["School Psychology"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Dissertation"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["disabilities","intervention","preschool","social competence","social skills","special needs","Special Education and Teaching"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://ecommons.luc.edu/luc_diss/113"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Early childhood represents a critical period for development of the social behaviors and language that make social competence possible. Demonstrating social competence and positive peer relationships before reaching kindergarten may enhance school functioning and early achievement once children enter the school setting (Costin & Jones, 1992; Gresham & Reschly, 1987; Ladd, 1990). Unfortunately, many children fail to naturally or adequately develop these important skills, heightening risk for future problems due to disability and factors such as poverty, abuse, and engagement with child welfare agencies (Guralnick & Groom, 1987; Fantuzzo et al., 1988; Mueller & Silverman, 1989; Campbell, 1990; Kopp, Baker, & Brown, 1992; Lieber, 1993; Webster-Stratton, 1997). This research is often cited as a justification for an increased focus on improving social competence as early as preschool (Gresham, 1981). The present study was an effort to synthesize published and unpublished research in order to determine whether social competence interventions are effective for young children with special needs. Results indicate that instructionally-based interventions are associated with small-to-moderate treatment effects. Diverse groups of young children have been the primary focus of this research, including those with emotional and behavioral problems and those at risk. Missing data and a failure to address generalization leave significant unanswered questions regarding the meaningful impact of such interventions on young children's quality of life.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["A Meta-Analysis of Interventions to Improve Social Competence in Early Childhood"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:creator":["Kennedy, Adam Steven"],"dc:date.available":["2016-03-31T17:08:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["Early childhood represents a critical period for development of the social behaviors and language that make social competence possible. Demonstrating social competence and positive peer relationships before reaching kindergarten may enhance school functioning and early achievement once children enter the school setting (Costin & Jones, 1992; Gresham & Reschly, 1987; Ladd, 1990). Unfortunately, many children fail to naturally or adequately develop these important skills, heightening risk for future problems due to disability and factors such as poverty, abuse, and engagement with child welfare agencies (Guralnick & Groom, 1987; Fantuzzo et al., 1988; Mueller & Silverman, 1989; Campbell, 1990; Kopp, Baker, & Brown, 1992; Lieber, 1993; Webster-Stratton, 1997). This research is often cited as a justification for an increased focus on improving social competence as early as preschool (Gresham, 1981). The present study was an effort to synthesize published and unpublished research in order to determine whether social competence interventions are effective for young children with special needs. Results indicate that instructionally-based interventions are associated with small-to-moderate treatment effects. Diverse groups of young children have been the primary focus of this research, including those with emotional and behavioral problems and those at risk. Missing data and a failure to address generalization leave significant unanswered questions regarding the meaningful impact of such interventions on young children's quality of life.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://ecommons.luc.edu/luc_diss/113"],"dc:subject":["disabilities","intervention","preschool","social competence","social skills","special needs","Special Education and Teaching"],"dc:title":["A Meta-Analysis of Interventions to Improve Social Competence in Early Childhood"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["School Psychology"],"thesis:degree_level":["Dissertation"],"thesis:degree_name":["Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:55:08Z"}