A Systematic Review of Methods for Establishing Social-Communicative Repertoires for Linguistically Diverse Learners

Author

Felicia McGill, Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical CollegeFollow

Semester of Graduation

Fall 2025

Degree

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Pscyhology

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

A systematic review was conducted to evaluate present levels of support for establishing communication with linguistically diverse individuals (i.e., those residing in multiple linguistic contexts) having a high-incidence form of developmental disability (e.g., autism, intellectual disability). This pre-registered systematic review (Prospero ID: CRD42024519657) was designed to characterize the types of strategies (i.e., procedures) and materials (e.g., language-correlated stimuli) used to support effective social communication across languages (e.g., communicating preferences, responding to instruction) as well as the effects of those practices. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they targeted individuals with a developmental disability having a linguistically diverse background, emphasized communication as either a primary or secondary outcome, and provided a teaching protocol that was sufficiently defined to facilitate replication (e.g., teaching procedures and session conditions were described, evidence of procedural fidelity was provided). The results of a systematic review consistent with PRISMA guidelines revealed a total of eight studies, and reviews of study methods revealed variability in the sequencing of multiple languages (e.g., simultaneous vs. alternating presentations) and participant characteristics (e.g., differences in language exposure), but strong emphasis on the acquisition of early verbal operants (i.e., simple mands) and autistic learners. Results of this review suggest emerging support for multilingual interventions for these populations, particularly for functional communication training, but a need for additional research comparing specific methods and approaches for establishing proficiency in multiple languages for exceptional populations.

Keywords: autism, bilingualism, functional communication training, diversity

Date

10-18-2025

Recommended Citation

McGill, Felicia, "A Systematic Review of Methods for Establishing Social-Communicative Repertoires for Linguistically Diverse Learners" (2025). LSU Master's Theses. 6233.
https://repository.lsu.edu/gradschool_theses/6233

Committee Chair

Gilroy, Shawn P.