Autism, Social Thoughts, Behavior and Interpretation

[tmob88]

Hi All,

 

First things first, I've been given permission to advertise this study on this forum

 

My name is Tamim Mobayed and I am a 25 year old Master's student at Queen's University in Belfast, Northern Ireland. I'm currently studying for a Master's in Autism and as part of this course I am carrying out a research project and as part of this project I was hoping to recruit you to take part.

 

If you take part, you will be asked to answer 6 different sets of questions that all in some way relate to social behavior. One set measures how many "autistic traits" an individual has. One set measures how many socially anxious thoughts you have thought. One set measures how many socially anxious/avoidant behaviors you do. One set measures how much social support you perceive yourself to have. One set looks at how you interpret ambiguous information. And the last set looks at what your experiences in school/university/college were like.

 

I am hoping that this study sheds some more light on how the presence of "autistic traits" might influence a person’s social life. Also, it is often said that some people with a diagnosis of autism have difficulty in interpreting ambiguous information however there actually aren't many studies that have looked into this area. Ultimately, I am hoping to see what challenges might face individuals with Autism or Asperger's in terms of their social lives in the hope of being able to address these challenges in the future.

 

To take part you do not need to have a diagnosis of Autism or any Autism related condition (Asperger's, High Functioning Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified and so on) or even suspect that you might have any of these. While I am hoping that most participants do, it's also important for me to have participants who are not "on the spectrum". The only condition is that for ethical purposes you have to be 18 years of age or over!

 

My email address is provided at the start and end of the study so please feel free to contact me with any questions you might have about the study and/or my findings.

 

The link to the study is: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/VMP9DDN

 

And if you want to do me an even bigger favour, if you can pass the link on to anyone who you think might be interested in taking part, I'd really appreciate that.

 

Thank you

[tmob88]

Thanks to everyone who has filled in the questionnaire so far.

I was hoping someone could help me with finding other Aspie of ASD message forums that I could advertise the study on.

So far, as well as advertising here, I've posted on Aspie Central and Wrong Planet, does anyone know of any other relevant message forums?!

T

[Shnoing]

Yes. But you have to ask for permission of the admins, who are very reluctant to give it. Try Gareth Nelson of Wales.

[tmob88]

Shnoing,

 

Is that the name of somebody on this forum who can be of help in this matter or is that the name of a message forum? Sorry, I'm confused,

 

T

[BruceCM]

Shnoing is the name of the poster. The forum he suggests is Aspies for Freedom, which is run by Gareth & his wife....

[tmob88]

Thanks Shnoing and Bruce, I appreciate the help!

 

 

T

[Shnoing]

One question: there's really a "Master in Autism"? What's the Bachelor it's based upon? (Just because I'm interested: I've got a professional doctorate [Law])

[Tanya52]

http://www.autismsupportnetwork.com/news/aspergers-and-social-network-autism-220492234

[tmob88]

Thanks Tanya, I'm going to sign up to that network now

 

Shnoing, there is indeed. My Bachelors was in psychology but most of my classmates are qualified teachers. I think the entry requirements for the course were quite broad and there are a few people on the course who don't have a Bachelors but have experience of Autism through their families.

 

Here's the link for the course that I'm on: http://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/SchoolofEducation/StudyattheSchool/MastersProgrammes/AutismSpectrumDisordersMSc/

 

and I think there are a few other unis in the UK who run similar courses.

[tmob88]

Hi All,

Just letting you know that I have finished participant recruitment.

Thank you to everyone who filled in a questionnaire! I'll post re. my results once my write up is complete. Also, all those who emailed me asking about the result will get an update on my results by email,

Thanks again!

T