This page contains accessible summaries of a broad range of the published Intensive Interaction research papers
Below are set out accessible summaries from over 40 published Intensive Interaction research papers which provide clear and robust evidence of the observable and therefore measurable outcomes of Intensive Interaction, which include:
- increased social anticipation, initiation and/or engagement
- increased toleration of, or responsiveness to physical proximity
- increased levels of contingent smiling
- increased levels of eye contact or looking at another person’s face
- increased use of vocalisation
- increased levels of socially significant physical contact
- improved levels of joint attention
You can explore particular categories of research e.g., with children or adult participants, or other significant research, by using the search filter below to see the summaries of each particular paper.
Download a copy of the Intensive Interaction Published Research Summaries here:
An Evaluation of Intensive Interactive Teaching with Pupils with Very Severe Learning Difficulties
Watson, J. & Knight, C. (1991) Child Language Teaching and Therapy, 7 (3), 310-25.…
Open Full Paper SummaryEvaluating the Effectiveness of Intensive Interaction Teaching with Pupils with Profound and Complex Learning Disabilities
Watson, J. & Fisher, A. (1997) British Journal of Special Education, 24 (2), 80-87.…
Open Full Paper SummarySam’s Story: evaluating intensive interaction in terms of its effect on the social and communicative ability of a young child with severe learning difficulties
Kellett, M. (2000) Support for Learning 15 (4), 165 – 171. This research paper…
Open Full Paper SummaryTeachers’ talk styles: communicating with learners with severe and complex learning difficulties
Nind, M., Kellett, M. & Hopkins, V. (2001) Child Language and Therapy, 17 (2),…
Open Full Paper SummaryJacob’s journey: developing sociability and communication in a young boy with severe and complex learning disabilities using the Intensive Interaction teaching approach.
Kellett, M. (2003) Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs, 3(1), 18–34. This paper…
Open Full Paper SummaryIntensive Interaction in the inclusive classroom: using interactive pedagogy to connect with students who are hardest to reach
Kellett, M. (2004), Westminster Studies in Education, 27 (2), 175-188. In this paper Kellet…
Open Full Paper SummaryCatherine’s Legacy: social communication development for individuals with profound learning difficulties and fragile life expectancies
Kellett, M. (2005) British Journal of Special Education, 32 (3), 116 – 121. This…
Open Full Paper SummaryEarly Communication strategies: using video analysis to support teachers working with preverbal pupils
Anderson, C. (2006) British Journal of Special Education, 33(3), 114-120. This article examined interactions…
Open Full Paper SummaryUsing Intensive Interaction to add to the palette of interactive possibilities in teacher-pupil communication
Barber, M. (2008) European Journal of Special Needs Education, 23 (4), 393-402. In 2003…
Open Full Paper SummaryFostering Social Engagement in Romanian Children with Communicative Impairments: Reflections by newly trained practitioners on the use of Intensive Interaction
Zeedyk, M. S., Davies, C., Parry, S. & Caldwell, P. (2009) British Journal of…
Open Full Paper SummaryAn investigation into an interaction programme for children on the autism spectrum: outcomes for children, perceptions of schools and a model for training
Jones, K. & Howley, M. (2010) Journal of Research in Sp. Ed. Needs, 10…
Open Full Paper SummaryThe training of a child with autism in a Greek preschool inclusive class through intensive interaction: a case study
By Argyropoulou, Z. & Papoudi, D. (2012), European Journal of Special Needs Education, 27…
Open Full Paper SummaryIntensive Interaction in the mainstream classroom: evaluating staff attitudes towards an inclusive socio-communicative intervention
Eleanor M Lloyd (2015) Good Autism Practice, 16 (2), p.49-68. Current national strategies require…
Open Full Paper SummaryGaining the power of initiation through Intensive Interaction
Calveley, J. (2017) Learning Disability Practice, 20(1), p.19-23. Rosie was 15, living at home…
Open Full Paper SummaryControlled study of the impact on child behaviour problems of Intensive Interaction for children with ASD
Abi Tee & Phil Reed (2017) Journal of Research in Sp. Ed Needs, 17…
Open Full Paper SummaryEfficacy of Intensive Interaction: Developing sociability and communication in people with severe and complex learning difficulties using an approach based on caregiver- infant interaction
Nind, M. (1996) European Journal of Special Educational Needs, 11 (1), 48-66. The Participants:…
Open Full Paper SummaryThe Effect of Intensive Interaction on the Sociability of a Man with Severe Intellectual Disabilities
Lovell, D., Jones, S. & Ephraim, G. (1998) Int. Journal of Practical Approaches to…
Open Full Paper SummaryReducing Stereotyped Behaviour: an experimental analysis of Intensive Interaction
Jones, R. & Williams, H. (1998) International Journal of Practical Approaches to Disability, 22…
Open Full Paper SummaryEnhanced Interaction Training
Cameron, L. & Bell, D. (2001) Working with People who have a Learning Disability,…
Open Full Paper SummaryIntensive Interaction with a Woman with Multiple and Profound Disabilities: a case study
Elgie, S. & Maguire, N. (2001) Tizard Learning Disability Review, 6 (3), 18-24. The…
Open Full Paper SummaryFrom the Inside Looking Out [FILO] – an Intensive Interaction group for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities
Leaning, B. & Watson T. (2006) British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 34, 103-109. Method:…
Open Full Paper Summary‘Using Intensive Interaction – A case study’
Forster, S. & Taylor, M. (2006) Acquiring Knowledge in Speech, Language & Hearing, 8…
Open Full Paper SummaryIntensive Interaction as a Novel Approach in Social Care: Care staff’s views on the practice change process
Firth, G., Elford, H., Leeming, C. & Crabbe, M. (2008) Journal of Applied Research…
Open Full Paper SummaryAn evaluation of Intensive Interaction in community living settings for adults with profound intellectual disabilities
Samuel, J., Nind, M., Volans, A. and Scriven, I. (2008) Journal of Intellectual Disabilities…
Open Full Paper SummaryHow Rapidly Does Intensive Interaction Promote Social Engagement for Adults with Profound Learning Disabilities?
Zeedyk, S, Caldwell, P. & Davies, C. (2009) European Journal of Special Needs Education,…
Open Full Paper SummaryCan adults on the autism spectrum be affected positively by the use of intensive interaction in supported living services?
Fraser, C. (2011) Good Autism Practice, 12 (2), 37-42. The case study: Derek was…
Open Full Paper SummaryIntensive Interaction: to build fulfilling relationships
Harris, C. & Wolverson, E. (2014) Journal of Dementia Care, 22 (6), 27-30. In…
Open Full Paper SummaryIntensive Interaction Training for Paid Carers: ‘Looking, Looking and Find Out When They Want to Relate to You’
Nagra, M., White, R., Appiah, A. & Rayner, K. (2016) Journal of Applied Research…
Open Full Paper SummaryGetting in touch with our feminine sides? Men’s difficulties and concerns with Intensive Interaction
Culham, A. (2004) British Journal of Special Education, 31 (2), 81-88. Methodology: This research…
Open Full Paper SummaryIntensive Interaction and autism: a useful approach?
Nind, M. (1999) British Journal of Special Education, 26 (2), 96–102. This article addressed…
Open Full Paper SummaryA Dual Aspect Process Model of Intensive Interaction
Firth, G. (2009) British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 37(1), 43-49. Since the 1980s, intensive…
Open Full Paper SummaryEffective Engagement through Intensive Interaction
Sharma, V. & Firth, G. (2012) Learning Disability Practice, 15 (9), 20-23. This paper…
Open Full Paper SummaryClinical Psychologists’ Views of Intensive Interaction as an Intervention in Learning Disability Services
Berry, R., Firth, G., Leeming, C. & Sharma, V. (2014) Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy,…
Open Full Paper SummaryThe Effectiveness of Intensive Interaction: A Systematic Literature Review
Hutchinson, N. & Bodicoat, A. (2015) Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 28…
Open Full Paper SummaryThe use of Intensive Interaction with people with severe-profound intellectual disability
Weedle, S. (2016) Learning Disability Practice, 19(9), 27-34. This paper reviewed the academic and…
Open Full Paper SummaryExamining the impact of a city-wide Intensive Interaction staff training program for adults with profound and multiple learning disability: a mixed methods evaluation
Clegg, J., Black, R., Smith, A. & Brumfitt, S. (2018) Disability and Rehabilitation [on-line]…
Open Full Paper SummaryIntensive Interaction and discourses of personhood: A focus group study with dementia caregivers
Cheyann J Heap & Emma Wolverson (2018) in Dementia, online. Introduction: According to the…
Open Full Paper SummarySome other Intensive Interaction articles & papers of interest:
Barber M. (2007) ‘Imitation, interaction and dialogue using Intensive Interaction: tea party rules’, Support…
Open Full Paper SummaryA glossary of useful research terms
BASELINE PHASE: a baseline phase is the period in research before a new approach…
Open Full Paper SummaryThe summaries included on this webpage were completed with the kind help of Lydia Bickley, Natalie Clark, Gemma Denby, Karen Egerton, Ella Goodworth, Ben Green, Petya Grigorova, Nick Guthrie, Tendayi Guzha, Stephen Howell, Catherine Leeming, Alex Puchala, Rochelle Rose, Anna Sampson, Vishal Sharma, Helen Simpson, Alex Straughan and Kate Tangri.
Get new content delivered directly to your inbox.
Connecting with Intensive Interaction 