ASSESSMENT TOOLS FOR SYMBOLIC PLAY SKILLS IN CHILDREN: OVERVIEW AND DISCUSSION ON APPLICATION FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER IN VIETNAM

DOI: 10.18173/2354-1075.2024-0107

Abstract

The article presents the results of a study reviewing 12 assessment tools for symbolic play skills including scales, tests, and checklists, sourced from five international databases: PubMed, Google Scholar, Eric, Research Gate, and APA PsycNet. The aim is to identify assessment tools for play skills in general, as well as for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The research findings indicate that most of these tools were developed in the United States, have high reliability (Cronbach's alpha coefficient ≥ 0.7), and require the assessors to be trained before conducting evaluations. The assessment content of these 12 tools focuses mainly on measuring and analyzing various aspects of symbolic play skills. The evaluation duration ranges from 10 minutes to 1 hour, primarily taking place in a natural, familiar environment for the children. The study emphasizes that the application of these tools in Vietnam needs to consider copyright issues, adapt criteria to suit children with ASD and Vietnamese culture, and ensure that assessors are adequately trained to enhance the accuracy and effectiveness of the evaluation process.