The Association between Adult Participation and the Engagement of Preschoolers with ASD

Table 3

Operational definitions.

	CASPER variables	CASPER definitions
Adult participation
Active Participation	Direction Adult Support	Adult provides instruction to focal child or assistance in performing a task or activity.
	Adult approval	Adult expresses praise, appreciation, or satisfaction (verbally or physically) with the focal child.
	Adult comment	Adult talks or gestures to focal child without providing direct support or approval.
Passive Participation	Group discussion/directions	Adult reads aloud to a group of children, sings to group, or gives direction to a group of children including focal child.
	No adult behavior to focal child and one of the following group arrangements: 1 : 1 with adult; Small group with adult; Large group with adult	Adult is directing no coded behavior to focal child or group of children with focal child, but adult is in close proximity to focal child.
No Participation	No adult behavior to focal child and one of the following group arrangements: Solitary; Small group; Large group	Adult is directing no coded behavior to focal child or a group of children with focal child, and an adult is not in close proximity to focal child.
Child engagement
Active Child Engagement	Book	Focal child actively involved with books.
	Preacademics	Focal child engages in preacademic behavior.
	Pretend/sociodramatic play	Focal child uses objects or materials in symbolic manner or performs a role in play theme.
	Art	Focal child interacting in art activity.
	Games with rules	Focal child participating in game with rules.
	Dance/music/recitation	Focal child engaging in songs, poems, nursery rhymes, or dances.
	Self-care/self-help	Focal child involved in caring for his or her personal needs.
	Manipulating	Focal child using coordinated eye-hand movements to interact meaningfully with materials or objects.
	Large motor	Focal child using large muscle movements.
	Clean-up	Focal child is putting away toys, equipment, furniture, dishes, and so forth.
No Active Child Engagement	Not engaged	Focal child is not actively engaged in any CASPER child engagement category.
	Stereotypic/repetitive	Focal child involved in some type of repetitive or stereotypic behavior.