Evaluating the efficacy of discrete trial training on skill acquisition in children with special educational needs: A quantitative analysis

This study quantitatively evaluates the efficacy of Discrete Trial Training (DTT) in enhancing self-help skill acquisition among children with Special Educational Needs (SEN). Conducted at Mandaue City Central SPED Center during the 2024–2025 school year, the research employed a pretest-posttest design with 23 purposively selected learners diagnosed with Autism, Intellectual Disability, and Learning Disability. The intervention targeted two specific skills: shoe lacing and buttoning. Baseline assessments revealed limited proficiency, with mean pretest scores of 13.26 for shoe lacing and 5.96 for buttoning, classifying most learners in the “developing” or “failing” categories. Following a structured DTT intervention, posttest results demonstrated significant improvement, with mean scores rising to 24.91 for shoe lacing and 10.26 for buttoning. Statistical analysis using paired-samples t-tests confirmed the significance of these gains (t=31.505, p