Arab Educational Information Network

The current study aimed to identify the knowledge level of teachers of children with autistic disorder with behavior modification methods in the light of some variables represented in gender ,qualification, and years of experience. The study sample consisted of (58) teachers. (38) male teachers and (20) female teachers who work at two institutions – The intellectual institute for boys, and the Autistic Centre for girls in Jeddah. A test to identify the knowledge level of teachers of AD children of behavior modification methods.The test was carried out by the researcher and checked its validity and reliability. It included testing the knowledge level on three levels: First ,principles of behavior modification .Second, methods of enhancing the desired behavior. Third, methods of reducing the unwanted behavior .Findings of the study indicated that the arithmetic means were between(5.84-7.12), the second level which is behavior enhancing methods was first in rank with the highest arithmetic mean (7.12) followed by the second rank –the third level which is methods of reducing the unwanted behavior with arithmetic mean(6.33),whereas, the first level which is principles of behavior modification was in the third rank with arithmetic mean (5.85). The arithmetic mean of the total knowledge was(19.29).As for variables ,differences with statistic indications were found and were attributed to gender effect in all levels and in the whole knowledge except for the third level which is reducing the unwanted behavior .The differences were in favor of females. With regard to qualification variable ,there are differences with statistical indications attributed to the effect of qualification in all areas and in the whole knowledge ,in addition to non-occurrence of differences with statistical indications that are attributed to the effect of experience in all levels and in whole knowledge. (Published abstract)