Category Archives: Research Studies

Sound Sensitivity Study – Testing Sound Management Technology in the Community

What do we want to know? We are currently recruiting autistic adults who have specific issues with sound sensitivity. We are interested in learning more about how autistic individuals cope with sound sensitivity, how sensitivity has impacted their lives, and physiological and behavioural reactions to certain sounds played through a set of headphones and while out in the community.

Who are we looking for?
• Autistic adults with a diagnosis (ages 19+) living in the Lower Mainland area.
• Must experience over-reactivity to at least one of the following sounds: sirens, traffic/cars honking, construction noise, dogs barking, or babies crying.
What to expect:
• Participating in this study involves completing questionnaires online, coming into the lab, and meeting in the community:
o Online Component: You will be asked to complete online questionnaires about your experiences with sound sensitivity.
o Lab Component: You will listen to certain sounds at different volumes through a set of headphones to determine your comfort level with these sounds. We will then use our new technology to help with sound sensitivity and ask you for your input. You will also complete a brief cognitive task.
o Community Component: You will listen to sounds in your environment through headphones connected to a mobile device. You will be asked to rate your comfort levels with these sounds. We will also ask for your feedback on our sound management technology. This community session will take place outside in the community.

• Participation in this study is broken into different sessions that are completed online, at SFU Burnaby, and in the community.
• We are offering $30/hr to participants.

How to sign up: For more information or if you are interested in participating, please contact Meryssa Waite at [email protected].

Testing a new technology to help manage sound sensitivity

We are recruiting autistic youth (ager 12 years and up) and adults (19 years and older) who have specific issues with sound sensitivity to test new technology to help manage challenges with sounds

About the Study:
Participation in this study will be divided into three sessions:

  • Session 1: You will be asked to complete online questionnaires about your experiences with sound sensitivity.
  • Session 2: You will listen to certain sounds at different volumes through a set of headphones to determine your comfort level with these sounds. We will then use our new technology to help with sound sensitivity and ask you for your input.
  • Session 3: You will be asked to wear a virtual reality headset (VR) to become immersed in virtual environments that contain sounds, and you will be asked to rate your comfort levels with these sounds. Sessions 2 and 3 can be completed together or on separate days.

Each session will take approximately 1 – 1.5 hours We are offering $30/hour or portion thereof

Who Can Participate?
Autistic youth and adults with a diagnosis (ages 12+) who live in the Lower Mainland of B.C. and experience over-reactivity to sounds in general and/or certain types of sounds.

Discrimination, ableism and racism hurt but inclusion can heal: Listening to the intersectional lived experiences of youth with disabilities and co-creating solutions

We are currently recruiting youth/Service provider/Decision-maker participants for one of our research studies, “Discrimination, ableism and racism hurt but inclusion can heal: ‘Listening to the intersectional lived experiences of youth with disabilities and co-creating solutions’. This study focused on understanding the diverse lived experience of youth with disabilities and particularly how disability intersects with race, ethnicity and/or gender. We would like to learn about suggestions from youth, clinicians, educators, service providers and decision makers on how to address and minimize discrimination towards people with disabilities. Specifically, youth, who are aged 15-29 and has a disability and identifies as belonging to a racial, ethnic or gender minority group, are encouraged to participate.

The Pathways to an Autism Diagnosis Study

It is very difficult for both parents and autistic individuals to seek out a diagnosis in Canada. For this reason, the Cognisant Lab is conducting a study at Wilfrid Laurier University to try to better understand common obstacles that people face and to understand the pathway that is followed while trying to obtain an autism diagnosis in Canada. The study is looking for participants 18+ years in age who have obtained autism diagnosis as an adult or have attempted to obtain an autism diagnosis as an adult in Canada, or a parent of children who has obtained or has attempted to obtain an autism diagnosis for their child in Canada. If you are interested in participating, you will be asked to provide information through a secure online survey on when you first suspected you and/or your child may be autistic, the steps taken to obtain a diagnosis, resources that were helpful and unhelpful, and information about your and/or your child’s autistic traits. The survey will take about 15-45 minutes to complete and upon completion you will be entered into a draw for a $50 gift card.

For more information about the study or to volunteer for the study, please contact: [email protected]

Study on Adult Autism Diagnostic Assessment

The Anxiety Stress and Autism Program (ASAP Lab), directed by Dr. Connor Kerns, is currently recruiting autistic adults and clinical professionals for an upcoming study!

The goal of this study is to establish a consensus between both autistic adults and expert clinicians around ideal assessment practices for diagnosing autistic adults. Through this effort, we hope to contribute to the development of more collaborative, effective, and inclusive diagnostic practices for autistic adults.

Brief study details

We are seeking input from autistic individuals who have received an autism diagnosis in adulthood (18+) within the last 5 years.

We are also seeking input from clinical professionals who have a minimum of 5 years of experience diagnosing autism in adults.

Eligible participants will complete three online surveys spread over several months, with each survey taking approximately 45 minutes to one hour.

Participants will receive $20 CAD per survey completed via an Amazon Gift Card.

To learn more about the study and/or to complete a short study eligibility survey (3-5 minutes), please visit the link provided below, or scan the barcode in the study advertisement.

Eligibility screener for autistic adults: 

https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bkY4GMhUqA7qsKy

Eligibility screener for clinical professionals:

https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_85Pqo4CQ1foxysK

Calling for Adolescent Perspectives on the PEERS Social Skills Program

PEERS is one of the few evidence-based social skills interventions for adolescents on the spectrum. However, neurodiversity advocates have been increasingly critical of the use of social skills programs for folks on the spectrum, due to the potentially negative social-emotional consequences of social camouflaging. Thus, this study aims to explore the social validity from the perspectives of adolescents on the spectrum.

Understanding Common Experiences for Families of Individuals with Down Syndrome in British Columbia: Education Survey

The purpose of this survey is to understand the educational experience of children with Down syndrome, in grades K-12 or recently graduated from a public, private or independent school, in British Columbia. This survey will probe participants about experiences in and out of the classroom, the IEP experience, and the perceived quality of educational services. 

This research study is led by Dr Holden Chow (Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Family Practice, UBC), in partnership with Down syndrome BC (“DSBC”). DSBC is a volunteer-driven organization made up of parents, caregivers and siblings of individuals with Down syndrome. 

The goal of Down syndrome BC (“DSBC”) is to use the results of this study to educate and advocate for change, where necessary, within the education community of British Columbia. Response to this survey will help direct these efforts. There is no direct benefit to participation in this study.

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

  • Primary caregiver of a child with Down syndrome
  • Child with Down syndrome is currently in grades K-12 (for 2023-2024 school year) OR has attended high school in the past three years
  • Child attends a ‘brick-and-mortar’ school (public, private or independent school) OR has attended a ‘brick-and-mortar’ school in the last three years
  • Currently residing in British Columbia

A study of accessibility barriers in the built environment, transportation, and ICT (Information and Communication Technologies)

Commissioned by Accessibility Standards Canada, the New Brunswick Community College Information and Communication Technologies Research team is researching barriers related to accessibility in the built environment, transportation, and ICT. NBCC-ICTR is conducting online interviews / surveys (questions approved by NBCC’s Research Ethics Board) to discover accessibility barriers.

NBCC-ICTR is looking for 4 cohorts to be interviewed/surveyed:

Must be 18 years or older.

– Individuals with disabilities
– Caretakers of adults with disabilities
– Experts of disabilities
– Managers of disabilities programs / organizations

Our homepage: https://nbcc.ca/applied-research

 

Game Based Assessments vs Interviews: Interview Anxiety and Performance Among Individuals with and without ASD

Yumna Najam Ahmed is an MSc student engaged in a research project overseen by Dr. Nicolas Roulin from the Department of Psychology at Saint Mary’s University. The project forms part of her MSc thesis and is backed by a SSHRC Insight Grant (#435-2021-1115). The purpose of the study is to gain insight into the performance of job applicants during online selection processes, such as virtual interviews and game-based assessments (GBA), and to ascertain the influence these processes have on hiring decisions. Of specific interest is the role that anxiety might play in affecting the performance of interviewees and GBA participants, particularly concerning individuals with and without autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Participants in the study are expected to envision themselves as job applicants who are interested in a position for which they have been invited to engage in three evaluation components of a simulated hiring process. The study consists of three parts:

1. The first part involves completing an asynchronous video interview (AVI), where participants must video-record their answers to questions using a webcam. Directly after the interview, they will be asked to provide feedback on their emotional state during the interview and on their conduct.

2. The second part requires scheduling and carrying out a live online video-conference interview (VCI) via Microsoft Teams or Zoom, where participants will use their webcams to respond to interview questions. Similar to the first part, they will be prompted to share their feelings and behavior immediately following the interview.

3. The final part invites participants to complete a Game Based Assessment (GBA) through an online game called OWIWI. This part involves gameplay and decision-making, after which individuals will again give feedback on their emotional experience during the assessment and on their actions.

To fulfill the requirements, participants need to use a laptop or tablet equipped with a webcam (smartphones are not acceptable) for parts one and two. They should access the first part using Chrome, Firefox, or MS Edge as a web browser (excluding Safari) and carry out the study in a quiet setting.

 Time commitment and compensation:

– The entire study is expected to take approximately 90 minutes, with 30 minutes allocated for each of the three parts.

Participants will receive compensation in the form of CAD $10 for each part they complete, making up a total of CAD $30. If participants do not complete the study online or if they do not approach the tasks with due seriousness, they will be eligible only for a partial payment of CAD $5 for each respective part. Participants need to provide an email address at each stage so that their involvement can be tracked and their compensation appropriately dispensed via e-transfer upon completion.

 Eligibility:

– The study is open to all individuals, including those diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
– Eligible participants must be residing in Canada, fluent in English, and at least 18 years old.
– They must not have any other mental health diagnoses that might impair daily functioning and task completion.

Children and Youth with Support Needs: Tell us your participation preferences for The Family Voices Project

The Family Support Institute of BC is currently collecting responses to the initial engagement preferences survey for the Family Voices Project. All parents and caregivers of children and youth with support needs are invited to share their participation preferences by taking this survey: https://bit.ly/3QHYOAM

The Family Voices Project is conducting meaningful engagement with the community to inform the work of the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD). This project is part of a larger effort by the Province of British Columbia to redesign and improve services for children and youth with support needs (CYSN). For this project, FSI will engage with families of children and youth with support needs, focusing on four groups: families of complex kids, transitioning youth, families of kids with dual diagnosis, and self-advocates. FSI’s engagement process aims to be culturally appropriate and mindful of the access needs of diverse groups. This research project is conducted in collaboration with the UBC Canadian Institute for Inclusion and Citizenship (CIIC).

PARTICIPATION PREFERENCES SURVEY: https://bit.ly/3QHYOAM