Summer 2016 Research Study: Animal-assisted intervention for reading
Georgetown College, Down Syndrome Association of Central Kentucky and Pawsibilities Unleashed partner on a study to investigate how the use of certified therapy dogs improves task engagement for reading-related skills in children with Down syndrome.
Principal Investigators
Dr. Rebecca Singer
Dr. Susan Bell
Research Assistants
Erin Myers – Junior, Physics Major
Elise McKinney – Junior, Psychology Major
Olivia Chandler – Sophomore, Psychology Major
Valerie Varble – University of Kentucky, Speech Language Pathology
Invitation to participate in research on emergent literacy and reading comprehension
Previous research has found that using dogs in academic settings decreases stress and increases attention to tasks. Children and adolescents with Down syndrome and one parent are asked to commit to 12 sessions of reading-related games and activities during the Summer and early Fall of 2016. Children must be able to imitate the sounds for at least three letters in order to be eligible to participate. All dogs used in the study have been trained and certified as therapy dogs through Pawsibilities, Unleashed of Frankfort, KY. This research is in no way affiliated with the process to receive a service animal. Goals for the research include increased task enagement in the presence of the dog and improvements in letter/sound identification, rhyming, reading fluency, and reading comprehension. One important benefit of participation will be helping your child retain reading-related skills over the summer that they might otherwise forget without practice. If you are interested in hearing more about this project, please contact Dr. Rebecca Singer or Dr. Susan Bell.
Session Information
12 weeks of individual reading-related intervention (can be non-consecutive weeks) between June and September, 2016
3 session types: 1/3 with research assistant, 1/3 with stuffed dog toy, 1/3 with certified therapy dog
30 minute sessions:
Without live dog:
* Welcome activity with research assistant/toy
* Word and letter games
*Reading books
*Farewell to research assistant/toy
With live dog:
*Meet and greet with dog
*Word and letter games
*Reading books
*Farewell to dog