Training Emotionally Disturbed Children in Role-Taking: A Structured Technique

A structured model is presented for brief training and evaluation of role-taking skills in young children. Using a within-subjects design, 16 emotionally disturbed boys ( M = 6–7 yr.) received brief training in role-taking and discussion with one story in the first condition and discussion only of another story in a second condition. No differences between conditions were found in subjects' recall, number of affective words used, and amount of eye movement. The use of this model in a control-group design, with separate groups of children receiving role-taking and discussion conditions, is suggested, and the importance of using a structured Technique in role-taking training is emphasized.