Meta-Analysis of Studies Incorporating the Interests of Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders into Early Intervention Practices

Table 2

Average effect sizes and 95% confidence intervals for the different categories of child outcomes.

Type of comparison/child outcomes	Number		Average effect size	95% Confidence interval	Z-test
	Studies	Effect sizes
Baseline versus intervention
Prosocial behavior	4	10	3.55	1.76–5.33	4.49****
Communication	5	16	5.03	3.61–6.45	7.55****
Performance	8	46	2.92	1.87–3.98	5.59***
Negative behavior	6	25	2.25	0.92–3.56	3.50**
Low versus high interest
Prosocial behavior	7	20	2.53	1.37–3.70	4.56****
Communication	4	8	1.07	0.17–2.20	2.22*
Performance	9	36	1.17	0.56–1.78	3.91***
Negative behavior	7	13	1.11	0.64–1.57	5.23****

^∗𝑃=.03, ^∗∗𝑃=.0005, ^∗∗∗𝑃=.0001, ^∗∗∗∗𝑃=.0000.