自閉スペクトラム症（自閉症）児の模倣への介入は，社会性の促進への有効性が検証されてきたものの，その促進要因について，大人によるモデル刺激の提示の仕方に着目し，系統的に検討する研究は少ない。これまでの研究では，模倣モデルの提示により，自閉症児の正確な模倣行動を引き出すことに焦点を当てていた（Tsiouri & Greer, 2003; Tsiouri & Greer, 2007; Tsiouri, Simmons, & Paul, 2012）。一方で，自閉症児の模倣課題への動機づけや，大人と自閉症児とのターンテーキングなどの対人的相互作用の要因が考慮されていなかった。そこで，本研究では大人による模倣モデルの提示速度に着目し，模倣モデル間の異なる試行間間隔（Intertrial Interval, ITI）が，自閉症児の模倣反応に与える影響を検討した。0秒と2秒という2条件の試行間間隔を設定し，8名の自閉症児の動作模倣反応を比較した結果，ITI-2 s条件と比べ，ITI-0 s条件の方で対象児8名中7名の連続模倣反応数が高く，一方で模倣の正反応率には差がなかったことが示された。本結果は，模倣モデルの提示速度が，自閉症児と大人との対人的相互作用と，自閉症児の課題への動機づけに影響を与え，模倣介入に客観的な知見を示した。
Although researchers have demonstrated the effectiveness of imitation interventions in developing the social communication skills of children with autism, few studies have systematically examined the factors that promote these skills and focused on how adults present the model stimuli. Previous studies have focused on eliciting accurate imitation behavior in children with autism by presenting imitation stimuli (Tsiouri & Greer, 2003; Tsiouri & Greer, 2007; and Tsiouri, Simmons, & Paul, 2012). Meanwhile, the task motivation and social interactions, including turn-taking between the child and the adult, remained unknown. In the current study, we focused on the imitation model’s presentation speed and compared the task performance of eight children with autism between two intertrial interval (ITI) conditions—0 s-ITI vs. 2 s-ITI. The results indicated that seven out of the eight children in the 0 s-ITI condition showed more continuous imitative behaviors, while there was no significant difference in the percentage of correct imitative behaviors between the two ITI conditions. The results also showed that the speed of presentation of the imitation model affects the task motivation of children with autism spectrum disorders and the interpersonal interaction between the child and the adult; thus, providing insights for future imitation interventions.

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