Women and ASD research

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Hi- I am not sure if this is an appropriate place to post an advertisement for a research project. Apologies if some people do not think that this fits in with the supportive function of this discussion group. Please do let me know if this is the case...

Women with Asperger’s Syndrome or High Functioning Autism are invited to take part in an e-mail based research study (running from November 2007- April 2008) looking into how women with an autistic spectrum disorder define and experience their gender. Participants must be women over the age of 18 years, who have an autistic spectrum disorder and for whom English is their first language. Participation will require e-mail contact only, is confidential and anonymous. Interested? Please contact Claire Radbourne at Canterbury Christchurch University on cr93@canterbury.ac.uk, or telephone 01892 50 7673 (leaving your name and a contact telephone number) if you have any questions, or to request an information sheet giving further details about the project.

Claire Radbourne
Trainee Clinical Psychologist
Canterbury Christchurch University

I would be happy to do e-mail based research study, and I'm in CHCH, NZ

Will contact soon, or contact me via my web site below, will also add details to me site for you..

Hi asplanet- thanks for putting the ad on your website.

The study is quite different from much of the research that is currently being carried out, in that it is 1) focussed solely on women with ASD and 2) is qualitative (i.e. it looks at women's own reports of their experiences and perceptions) rather than more experimental-type research. I do hope you find participating interesting and look forward to hearing from you shortly...

Claire

Out of interest, what's the focus of the study? From what sparse information I've read, I seem to fit better into the stereotypical female mould for aspies (despite being male), so while I'm not eligible for the study, I'll be interested in what you're doing and the results.

Hi mmaestro-
the study looks quite broadly at women's perceptions and experiences relating to their gender and ASD. Participants would be asked questions, for example, around how they view themselves in terms of their gender, their experiences of being a woman with ASD, any benefits or challenges they feel they have experienced as a result of being their gender etc. etc...

Those who do participate would automatically receive the findings early on (as they would be invited to comment or give any feedback on them, prior to write-up). However, I would also be happy to provide details of findings or resulting papers on request (my email address is above) once the study has been written-up...

thanks for your interest,
Claire

I'm happy to participate via email.

hello

i have not been formally diagnosed, but when i was 18 i was told by a student that i was probably an aspie, now i am seeing psychologists and she says that i show a lot of traits but i have to see a specialist, i would be interested to help but with no formal diagnoses i do not know what help i could be, i am volunteering for cambridge university but not the autism research and as such have taken the aq sq and eq i have an aq of 46, 106 sq and 6 eq, madz

i assume diagnosis is required..........

and please specify any kind of standardization for what you mean to ask how we "Define" and "Experience" our gender?

Maddie and Sedaka,

thank you both for your interest in the project, it is greatly appreciated. Unfortunately only women with a formal diagnosis of ASD are able to take part in the study.

Sedaka- the project aims to collect mainly qualitative data, including data on how different women with AS define/view/ perceive themselves in terms of their gender. It includes questions, for example, on how/ whether they define themselves, in terms of their gender identity i.e. as feminine, androgynous, butch etc. etc. It also includes questions on experiences growing up (in relation to gender) such as whether they recall having had experiences as a child that made them aware of/ think about their gender. The nature of the study means that it aims, as far as possible, not to impose pre-conceived or standardized ideas about how they should define themselves etc. Does this help answer your question? If I have misunderstood, if you have any further questions, or if you would like an information sheet, please do feel free to email me on cr93@canterbury.ac.uk.
Best wishes,

Claire

I'd be interested in taking part, in the study.

Hi Sid/CockneyRebel,

thanks for your interest- if you are still interested in participating in the study could you contact me via the email address above (cr93@canterbury.ac.uk).

I look forward to hearing from you,

Claire

Hi, I've not been formally diagnosed yet but am working on it. Is there a set beginning and end to this or would i be able to participate if and when i get a diagnosis?

Hi WinterRose,

Thanks for your interest. The study is running until April 2008. Please do contact me on the email address above once you receive your diagnosis if are still interested in participating.

Best wishes,

Claire