The effect of animal-assisted therapy on fine motor skill development.

This study investigated the effect of weekly animal assisted activities utilizing guinea pigs on the fine motor development of children in grades kindergarten through third while also aiming to find more engaging and effective methods of occupational therapy for children in particular. An experiment...

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Main Author: McWatters, M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Royal St. George's College 2020-08-01
Series:The Young Researcher
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.theyoungresearcher.com/papers/mcwatters.pdf
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author McWatters, M.
author_facet McWatters, M.
author_sort McWatters, M.
collection DOAJ
description This study investigated the effect of weekly animal assisted activities utilizing guinea pigs on the fine motor development of children in grades kindergarten through third while also aiming to find more engaging and effective methods of occupational therapy for children in particular. An experimental research method was used to obtain quantitative data measuring fine motor ability through three different baseline data tests before and after a four week period. These baseline tests were implemented on both a control group and an experimental group. However, the experimental group had weekly interaction with guinea pigs between the two baseline data tests while the control group made no change to their daily routine. Ultimately, it was found through correlational research methods that animal assisted activities can be beneficial for fine motor development as the experimental group, on average, showed a much greater improvement in the tests over four weeks than the control group.
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spelling doaj-art-2dee5b570b594ea6ae5ee63ea735d3992025-08-20T02:24:07ZengRoyal St. George's CollegeThe Young Researcher2560-98232560-98232020-08-0141178187The effect of animal-assisted therapy on fine motor skill development.McWatters, M.This study investigated the effect of weekly animal assisted activities utilizing guinea pigs on the fine motor development of children in grades kindergarten through third while also aiming to find more engaging and effective methods of occupational therapy for children in particular. An experimental research method was used to obtain quantitative data measuring fine motor ability through three different baseline data tests before and after a four week period. These baseline tests were implemented on both a control group and an experimental group. However, the experimental group had weekly interaction with guinea pigs between the two baseline data tests while the control group made no change to their daily routine. Ultimately, it was found through correlational research methods that animal assisted activities can be beneficial for fine motor development as the experimental group, on average, showed a much greater improvement in the tests over four weeks than the control group.http://www.theyoungresearcher.com/papers/mcwatters.pdfoccupational therapyanimal assisted activitiesanimal assisted therapyfine motor skills
spellingShingle McWatters, M.
The effect of animal-assisted therapy on fine motor skill development.
The Young Researcher
occupational therapy
animal assisted activities
animal assisted therapy
fine motor skills
title The effect of animal-assisted therapy on fine motor skill development.
title_full The effect of animal-assisted therapy on fine motor skill development.
title_fullStr The effect of animal-assisted therapy on fine motor skill development.
title_full_unstemmed The effect of animal-assisted therapy on fine motor skill development.
title_short The effect of animal-assisted therapy on fine motor skill development.
title_sort effect of animal assisted therapy on fine motor skill development
topic occupational therapy
animal assisted activities
animal assisted therapy
fine motor skills
url http://www.theyoungresearcher.com/papers/mcwatters.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT mcwattersm theeffectofanimalassistedtherapyonfinemotorskilldevelopment
AT mcwattersm effectofanimalassistedtherapyonfinemotorskilldevelopment