The Impact of a Virtual Magic Trick Training Program

NCT05664841 | Recruiting Phase 2

• 1 other identifier: 1909503-38
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The proposed project will attempt to confirm the benefits of a structured magic trick training program (MTTP) experience in adolescents with autism. Benefits of participating in a 6-week virtual MTTP will be evaluated using validated assessments to measure social-emotional competencies.

Conditions

Autism; Pervasive Developmental Disorder

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (27)

• Test of Adolescents Social Skills Knowledge (TASSK)

  The TASSK is a self-report 30-item questionnaire that measures knowledge of specific social skills. Scores range between 0 to 26 with higher score reflecting greater knowledge of adolescent social skills.

  baseline

• Test of Adolescents Social Skills Knowledge (TASSK)

  The TASSK is a self-report 30-item questionnaire that measures knowledge of specific social skills. Scores range between 0 to 26 with higher score reflecting greater knowledge of adolescent social skills.

  at 6 week

• Test of Adolescents Social Skills Knowledge (TASSK)

  The TASSK is a self-report 30-item questionnaire that measures knowledge of specific social skills. Scores range between 0 to 26 with higher score reflecting greater knowledge of adolescent social skills.

  at 12 week

• Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)

  SDQ (peer problem scale and prosocial scale) consists of 10 items rated on a 3-point Likert-type scale (not true=1 to certainly true=3), with higher scores indicating higher psychological problems. Some items require reverse scoring.

  baseline

• Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)

  SDQ (peer problem scale and prosocial scale) consists of 10 items rated on a 3-point Likert-type scale (not true=1 to certainly true=3), with higher scores indicating higher psychological problems. Some items require reverse scoring.

  at 6 week

• Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)

  SDQ (peer problem scale and prosocial scale) consists of 10 items rated on a 3-point Likert-type scale (not true=1 to certainly true=3), with higher scores indicating higher psychological problems. Some items require reverse scoring.

  at 12 week

• Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale (RSES)

  RSES consists of 10 items rated on a 4-point Likert-type scale, with higher scores indicate higher self-esteem.

  baseline

• Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale (RSES)

  RSES consists of 10 items rated on a 4-point Likert-type scale, with higher scores indicate higher self-esteem.

  at 6 week

• Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale (RSES)

  RSES consists of 10 items rated on a 4-point Likert-type scale, with higher scores indicate higher self-esteem.

  at 12 week

• UCLA Loneliness Scale Version 3

  The UCLA Loneliness Scale (Version 3) is a 20-item measure that assesses how often a person feels disconnected from others. Using a 4-point rating scale (1= never; 4 = always), participants answer 20 questions, such as "How often do you feel left out?" and "How often do you feel part of a group of friends?" Researchers later reverse-code the positively worded items so that high values mean more loneliness, and then calculate a score for each respondent by averaging their ratings.

  baseline

• UCLA Loneliness Scale Version 3

  The UCLA Loneliness Scale (Version 3) is a 20-item measure that assesses how often a person feels disconnected from others. Using a 4-point rating scale (1= never; 4 = always), participants answer 20 questions, such as "How often do you feel left out?" and "How often do you feel part of a group of friends?" Researchers later reverse-code the positively worded items so that high values mean more loneliness, and then calculate a score for each respondent by averaging their ratings.

  at 6 week

• UCLA Loneliness Scale Version 3

  The UCLA Loneliness Scale (Version 3) is a 20-item measure that assesses how often a person feels disconnected from others. Using a 4-point rating scale (1= never; 4 = always), participants answer 20 questions, such as "How often do you feel left out?" and "How often do you feel part of a group of friends?" Researchers later reverse-code the positively worded items so that high values mean more loneliness, and then calculate a score for each respondent by averaging their ratings.

  at 12 week

• Self-efficacy Questionnaire for Children

  It consists of 16 items rated on a 5-point Likert-type scale (not at all=1 to very well=5) with higher scores indicating higher self-efficacy.

  baseline

• Self-efficacy Questionnaire for Children

  It consists of 16 items rated on a 5-point Likert-type scale (not at all=1 to very well=5) with higher scores indicating higher self-efficacy.

  at 6 week

• Self-efficacy Questionnaire for Children

  It consists of 16 items rated on a 5-point Likert-type scale (not at all=1 to very well=5) with higher scores indicating higher self-efficacy.

  at 12 week

• Best Friend Index

  The Best Friend Index is a scale for the measurement of the features of positive and negative friendship consisting of 18 items. Each item is answered on a 5-point scale (from 1= Never to 5=Very often).

  baseline

• Best Friend Index

  The Best Friend Index is a scale for the measurement of the features of positive and negative friendship consisting of 18 items. Each item is answered on a 5-point scale (from 1= Never to 5=Very often).

  at 6 week

• Best Friend Index

  The Best Friend Index is a scale for the measurement of the features of positive and negative friendship consisting of 18 items. Each item is answered on a 5-point scale (from 1= Never to 5=Very often).

  at 12 week

• Quality of Socialization Questionnaire

  It is a 12-item self-report and parent-report measure to assess the frequency of adolescents get-together, number of friends involved and the level of conflict during get-togethers over the previous month.

  baseline

• Quality of Socialization Questionnaire

  It is a 12-item self-report and parent-report measure to assess the frequency of adolescents get-together, number of friends involved and the level of conflict during get-togethers over the previous month.

  at 6 week

• Quality of Socialization Questionnaire

  It is a 12-item self-report and parent-report measure to assess the frequency of adolescents get-together, number of friends involved and the level of conflict during get-togethers over the previous month.

  at 12 week

• Autism Social Skills Profile

  It is a checklist that provides a comprehensive measure of social functioning of children and adolescents who are on the Autism Spectrum. The 49 items are rated on a 4-point Likert scale with 1=never, 2=sometimes, 3=often, and 4=very often. The test yields three subscale scores: Social/Emotional Reciprocity (SER), Social Participation/Avoidance (SPA), and Detrimental Social Behaviors (DSB), as well as a total score.

  baseline

• Autism Social Skills Profile

  It is a checklist that provides a comprehensive measure of social functioning of children and adolescents who are on the Autism Spectrum. The 49 items are rated on a 4-point Likert scale with 1=never, 2=sometimes, 3=often, and 4=very often. The test yields three subscale scores: Social/Emotional Reciprocity (SER), Social Participation/Avoidance (SPA), and Detrimental Social Behaviors (DSB), as well as a total score.

  at 6 week

• Autism Social Skills Profile

  It is a checklist that provides a comprehensive measure of social functioning of children and adolescents who are on the Autism Spectrum. The 49 items are rated on a 4-point Likert scale with 1=never, 2=sometimes, 3=often, and 4=very often. The test yields three subscale scores: Social/Emotional Reciprocity (SER), Social Participation/Avoidance (SPA), and Detrimental Social Behaviors (DSB), as well as a total score.

  at 12 week

• Stanford Social Dimensions Scale

  The SSDS is more comprehensive, sensitive and specific compared to other instruments in terms of capturing key social processes that are necessary for understanding of social deficits in conditions. The 71 items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale with 1=never, 2=rarely, 3=sometimes, 4=often, and 5=always.

  baseline

• Stanford Social Dimensions Scale

  IThe SSDS is more comprehensive, sensitive and specific compared to other instruments in terms of capturing key social processes that are necessary for understanding of social deficits in conditions. The 71 items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale with 1=never, 2=rarely, 3=sometimes, 4=often, and 5=always.

  at 6 week

• Stanford Social Dimensions Scale

  The SSDS is more comprehensive, sensitive and specific compared to other instruments in terms of capturing key social processes that are necessary for understanding of social deficits in conditions. The 71 items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale with 1=never, 2=rarely, 3=sometimes, 4=often, and 5=always.

  at 12 week

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Emotional stress

  baseline

• Emotional stress

  at 6 week

• Emotional stress

  at 12 week

Study Arms (2)

magic trick training

EXPERIMENTAL

Participation in a 6 weekly virtual magic trick training camp with three lessons per week.

Behavioral: magic trick training

waitlist control

NO INTERVENTION

Participation in usual daily activities.

Interventions

magic trick training BEHAVIORAL

A typical session will begin with the magician demonstrating a magic trick then revealing the secret move of the trick.The participants will learn and practice each trick. With assistance from the magician, participants will develop an oralstory presentation for the trick. After participants master one trick, the magician will demonstrate and teach the next.

magic trick training

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 11 Years - 18 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Confirmed diagnosis (with proof of evidence) of autism;
• Aged between 11 and 18 years (younger children may lack the inductive reasoning skills to learn magic tricks);
• Have functional hand dexterity to do magic tricks
• Intact cognition as indicated by a score above the corresponding cut-off point of the child's age on the Mini-Mental Examination for Children; and
• Access to internet and a computer or smartphone that can perform videoconferencing.

You may not qualify if:

• Severe hearing or visual impairments that prevent online learning;
• Previous participation in organized magic learning program or camp;
• Current or planned participation in psychological therapy or a clinical trial during the study period that could affect the outcomes of the study.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Alabama at Birmingham: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Birmingham, Alabama, 35294, United States

RECRUITING

Related Publications (1)

• Spencer K, Yuen HK, Jenkins GR, Kirklin K, Vogtle LK, Davis D. The 'magic' of magic camp from the perspective of children with hemiparesis. J Exerc Rehabil. 2021 Feb 23;17(1):15-20. doi: 10.12965/jer.2040802.401. eCollection 2021 Feb.

  PMID: 33728284 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Autistic Disorder; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Autism Spectrum Disorder; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Hon Yuen, PhD

  University of Alabama at Birmingham

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Hon Yuen

CONTACT

205-934-6301; yuen@uab.edu

Kimberly Kirklin

CONTACT

205-934-0862; kkirklin@uab.edu

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: phase 2
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Model Details: Randomized controlled trial

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 5, 2022
• First Posted: December 27, 2022
• Study Start: March 27, 2023
• Primary Completion (Estimated): February 1, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): February 1, 2028
• Last Updated: February 6, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)