Autism Research Undertaken by Organisations other than Research Autism
This page provides details of autism research being undertaken by organisations and individuals other than Research Autism.
If you would your study to be included on this page please email info@researchautism.net, including details of the ethics approval for the project.
You can also email us if you would like to be kept informed of new studies requiring research participants.
Thank you.
Eye Movements and Reading
Researchers at the University of Southampton are looking for volunteers with Asperger’s Syndrome or high-functioning Autism aged 18+ who have no learning disabilities (e.g. dyslexia) to take part in their research project.
The study will use a non-invasive eye-tracker to examine people’s eye-movements as they read sentences off a computer screen. This study will contribute towards our understanding of how people process linguistic information.
Volunteers can come to the University to take part, or depending on where volunteers live, the researchers may be able to travel to them.
All volunteers will receive £20 as payment and if travelling to the University, will have any travel costs reimbursed.
If you would like to take part or have any questions, please feel free to contact Philippa Howard (PhD student) by emailing plh1g11@soton.ac.uk or Valerie Benson (supervisor) by emailing V.Benson@soton.ac.uk
Address: Shackleton Building, Highfield Campus, University of Southampton, SO17 1BJ
Disability in the workplace
Heriot-Watt University is currently offering one PhD scholarship on disability in the workplace.
There is a lack of critical research concerning the management and experiences of employees with a disability in the workplace. There is perhaps a larger gap in the literature in terms of research related to employees with a hidden disability, e.g. a mental health condition or an autistic spectrum disorder. This PhD project aims help further understand the management and/or experiences of employees with a particular disability or a range of disabilities in the workplace. It is expected that such a study would be characterised by a theoretical framework(s) that reflects the realities and contradictions of contemporary employment and difficulties faced by employees with a disability.
Informal enquiries to supervisors: Dr James Richards J.Richards@hw.ac.uk and Dr Kate Sang K.Sang@hw.ac.uk
General enquiries to Caroline Murray – C.A.Murray@hw.ac.uk
The deadline for applications is 31 May 2013
The Sensory and Motor correlates of Social Responsiveness in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
A researcher studying Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience at Goldsmiths, University of London is looking for participants for a study examining how sensory processing and motor coordination deficits affect the development of social skills in children with autism.
Participants of this study will include parents of children with a diagnosis of autism between the ages of 5-10 years old.
Participation involves the completion of 3 questionnaires that contain questions about your child’s social, sensory and motor abilities and can be completed at any point up until the 31/07/2013.
Questionnaires can be completed online (Open in New Window) or in pen and paper (please email to request).
As a thank you for your participation in this study, each participant will be entered into a draw to win a £100 M&S voucher.
To request a paper copy or further information about this study, please contact Michaela at ps203mm@gold.ac.uk
Taiwan and United Kingdom Sibling Project
Joy Tsai, at the University of Edinburgh, is looking for parents and siblings of people with ASD/ Asperger Syndrome to participate in a new research project called TUKS (Taiwan – United Kingdom Siblings project).
The project focuses on the experiences of siblings of people with autism. The research will involve you – the parent – and your child without autism. Siblings (brothers or sisters) who are aged 9 – 17 years and who don’t have an autism diagnosis are welcome to participate. The research will only involve post and e-mail contact and there are no home visits or clinic appointments. Your child with autism will not take part directly.
If you are interested in finding out more, please look at the study website (Open in New Window) Or get in touch directly by emailing tuks@ed.ac.uk
If you contact Joy she will send out some more information to help you and your family decide whether you want to take part.
Why parents use GFCF diets for the treatment and management of their child’s autism symptoms
Research into parent’s use of gluten free, casein free (GFCF) diets for their child who is on the autism spectrum is being conducted at Sheffield Hallam University in partial fulfilment of a PhD thesis. This particular questionnaire study has been designed to collect information on parents/caregivers beliefs about GFCF diets as a treatment option for their child’s autism symptoms. The results of this questionnaire will be used to formulate a larger questionnaire which will be designed to uncover the factors which may influence parents/caregivers decisions to use this particular dietary intervention.
If you have a child who has been diagnosed with an ASD and they are between the ages of 5-12 years you are invited to complete this short online questionnaire. Please complete whether you have never tried, have tried, but no longer use, or are currently using a GFCF diet. You are not asked to provide any identifiable information such as your name nor address on the questionnaire, therefore all data will be anonymous. However if you are interested in taking part in the larger follow up study you will be given the option to provide your contact details at the end of the questionnaire. These will be stored separately from your questionnaire responses to maintain anonymity. To access the online questionnaire, please click the link below.
If you are interested in participating in this research, please visit the online questionnaire (Open in New Window)
Investigating the difference in the gut microbiota and metabolite composition in individuals with autism spectrum disorder
We have had a research request from Dr Luke Mappley, a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Reading, currently working on a research project that is investigating the possible role of the gut and gut bacteria in autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Bowel problems, such as diarrhoea, constipation, abdominal pain and vomiting are reported as relatively common in individuals with ASD. Understanding the cause of such clinical symptoms is important for the early identification of pathology and guiding therapy for those individuals who may be affected . The aim of this study is to identify differences in the composition of the bacteria and their products in the gut of individuals with autism, with a view to a better understanding the role of the gut in autism. Using data from such investigations, we aim to develop (word nutritional removed) therapies aimed at correcting any differences found in the gut bacteria and/or metabolite composition to see if we can improve associated symptoms in individuals with autism. We aim to recruit 40 participants with ASD and 40 non-ASD individuals (siblings and/or age-matched individuals) to provide a means for comparison, although we always welcome more participants as the more samples we obtain, the better our conclusions from the analyses are. If siblings without ASD are available and willing to provide samples, this will allow us the best means or comparison for our analyses, however, if sibling without ASD are not available, this is not a problem.
If you are interested in participating in the study, please get in contact with Dr Luke Mappley, who can provide you with further information about the study and answer any questions that you may have. If you would like to participate, you will be sent consent and information forms to provide the study investigators with relevant information about the participants. One the forms have been completed and returned, you will be sent a sample collection kit to collect the urine and stool samples.
You can contact Dr Luke Mappley by e-mail: l.mappley@reading.ac.uk, Tel: 0118 378 5000 or Mob: 0798 333 2552
Autism, the self-concept and autobiographical memory
Emma Grisdale from Durham University would like to invite children aged between 6 and 9 years to participate in her study of the development of the self-concept in children with autism. This is the way in which a person thinks about his or herself. For example, describing yourself as being a happy person is part of the self-concept. For this research, she has designed some fun and rewarding tasks. She will also give children some standard tests of cognitive ability. She would like to see your child at school (with the school’s permission) for a maximum of 2× 30 minute sessions or in the psychology department of Durham University for one session, lasting an hour (whichever is more convenient for you). For children and parents/carers travelling to Durham, she would reimburse all travel costs. This research has been ethically approved by the Durham University Ethics Advisory Sub-Committee and all information will be strictly confidential.
For more information please contact Emma Grisdale, Department of Psychology, Durham University Science Site, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE. Tel. 07958696231 or email emma.grisdale@durham.ac.uk
Parent training for young children with autism: Efficacy of a repeated storybook reading intervention on spontaneous language production.
Sarah Barron, PhD researcher at St Mary’s University College, London is currently looking for volunteers to take part in a research project for families with children who have autism.
The Chatter project is a parent training intervention. The aim is to increase spontaneous language in children with autism through storybook reading sessions with their parent. Parents of children with a diagnosis of autism in reception, year 1 or 2 are required to participate.
The project will involve parental attendance at 2 sessions in Windsor, where full training and all resources will be provided. It will also involve interviews with parents, and recorded observations in the home. Families will complete storybook reading activities with their child 5 days per week, for 12 weeks. Full support and guidance will be available throughout the project.
If you would like further information about the Chatter project, please contact Sarah Barron by email at 070247@live.smuc.ac.uk
Personality traits, decision-making and risky behaviour
Caitlin Robertson, Deakin University, Victoria, Australia, is conducting a survey into moral reasoning and autism.
You are invited to take part in a research project involving completing an anonymous online survey, which examines whether certain personality and other characteristics are related to the way individuals decide what is right and wrong and whether they engage in behaviours that have the potential to result in legal consequences. In particular, we are interested in whether certain traits that may be associated with autism spectrum disorder are related to differences in moral decision making and whether these differences may place some people at risk of offending. We anticipate that the findings of the study will inform programs to assist individuals who may be at risk of offending.The survey will take approximately 45 minutes to complete.
If you are interested in participating in this research, please follow the link to an information page about the online questionnaire (Open in New Window)
The use of apps for children with autism
Claire Thompson, Clinical Psychologist in training, Newcomen Centre at St Thomas’, St Thomas’ Hospital, is conducting a study into apps for children with autism.
“We are a paediatric neurosciences team based in the UK working with lots of children with an autism diagnosis, and have heard from some of our parents that they use iPad and android apps to help their children with daily living skills, communication and much more. We would like to find out which apps parents of children with autism find most helpful. Some of these apps have been properly reviewed and tested out, but a clear evidence base is lacking and it can be difficult for parents to know which apps are useful. We would be very grateful if you could take a few minutes to fill in our survey to help us to gather recommendations and provide a resource to parents of useful apps.
“All of your answers will be anonymous and we do not ask for any identifying data.”
You can find the questionnaire at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/3WBKY6X/ (Open in New Window)
For further information please email claire.c.thompson@kcl.ac.uk
Intensive interaction as programme for autistic children
Abigail Tee, an MSc Research Methods in Psychology Student from Swansea University, is currently running a study and is recruiting parents who use intensive interaction with children with ASD (diagnosed or undiagnosed and for any length of time/any age).
She needs parents who carry out II with their children two fill out two very brief questionnaires online. One as soon as possible and the other in about 3 months.
You can find the questionnaire at http://psy.swansea.ac.uk/questionnaires/552806_1/ (Open in New Window)
Autism and fitness to plead
Rebecca Brewer, a doctoral student with the University of Birmingham who is training to become a forensic psychologist, is looking at people’s understanding of courtroom processes.
The study aims to provide information to help lawyers and healthcare workers decide if a person is able to follow and understand what is happening and why in the courtroom.
If you are on the autism spectrum (including Asperger syndrome or pervasive developmental disorder i.e. PDD-NOS), are 18 or older, and have no criminal convictions, the researcher would like to hear from you. In particular, individuals living in the Midlands, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire regions.
The research takes around one hour to complete and can be undertaken near to your home (e.g. a local library).
When you have completed the study, your name will be entered into a prize draw to win a £30 for a shop of your choice.
For more information please email rjb024@bham.ac.uk
Parental, family resilience and parental stress mediation affects
Curtis Cripe, a stepfather of an ASD child, health care professional, and a Doctorial candidate with Northcentral University School of Behavioral Health Sciences, Prescott, Arizona.
This study explores how resilient parents raising special needs children affect the entire family’s resilience and is intended for publication. Families raising special needs children face unique challenges that differ from families who are not raising a special needs child, often not understood by family therapists. It is hoped that the results of this study will help influence family therapists by showing what the differences are.
The survey should take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete, by both parents at the same time or by a single parent.
You can find the questionnaire at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Z89NVV8 (Open in New Window)
A copy of your results that shows how resilient each parent is, the family’s resiliency, and how much stress each parent is under will be available after completing the survey. These standardized survey instruments are the same instruments that a family therapist would use, but would require three separate meetings.
Last Updated : 20/05/2013 Back to Top
