What is the purpose of social stories?

Social stories serve the purpose of presenting clear goals through structured storytelling. They are utilized primarily to teach individuals—especially those on the autism spectrum—about social situations and appropriate responses to them. By using a narrative format, social stories provide specific, relatable scenarios that help individuals understand social cues, expectations, and behaviors in context. The structured approach of these stories allows learners to visualize and understand how to interact in various social situations, which is fundamental for their social development.

The other options do not align with the purpose of social stories. Describing statistical data is more about quantitative analysis, while a fictional narrative devoid of real-life application would not serve the educational and practical needs that social stories aim to address. Similarly, identifying academic achievements focuses solely on academic performance without considering the social learning aspects that social stories target. Therefore, the correct answer highlights the educational framework that social stories provide for developing social understanding and skills.