Research Studies

As of December 13, 2006, research studies will be removed from this page approximately two years after being posted, unless a different timeframe is specified. Researchers are strongly advised to contact us with new information about their studies periodically.

Click here to Submit a Research Study.

Siblings with Special Needs Relationship Study - Students at the Yorktown High School Science Research Program would like to invite those that have a child with special needs as well as a non disabled child to be involved in their new study.
Added 12/7/11

Autism Research Study at Children's Hospital Boston - Collecting phenotypic and genetic data on children aged 24 months and up, diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and their families, to better understand ASD for earlier diagnosis and better treatment.
Added 11/9/11

Autism and Religion - David Brown is gathering information re religious beliefs, attitudes and experiences of persons with autism, to complete degree and create resource for houses of worship.
Added 10/19/11

Partners Exploring Education and Recreation, mentoring for youth with Aspergers Syndrome and High functioning Autism - Partners for Youth with Disabilities, is collaborating with Tufts Medical Center and the University of Massachusetts Medical School in a demonstration research project for youth with Aspergers Sydrome and High functioning Autism.
Added 10/3/11

Emotion-Based Inferences in Children with Autism - Abigail Leibovitch is conducting a study that explores how well children with autism are able to make emotion-based inferences when compared to their typically developing peers.
Added 10/3/11

Perspective-Taking and the Ability to Make Emotion-Based Inferences Among Children with High- Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders - This study is designed to look at perspective-taking skills among children with high-functioning autism-spectrum disorders.
Updated 9/14/11

Partners/MGH MRI Study in Charlestown - Asperger participants aged 16-50 are wanted for a MEG/MRI research study. The study consists of one magneto-encephalography (MEG) session lasting approximately 2 hours and one magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) session of one hour.
Added 8/29/11

TRANSCEND - Our research program studies information processing and brain development in typically developing children and children diagnosed with autism. We use MEG to see how the brain responds to simple stimuli, such as sounds, words, pictures, and flashes of light.
Added 8/24/11

Smooth Sailing: The Early School Years for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders - This study, which involves assessments at UMass Boston, is designed to understand children's development during the early school years.
Added 7/29/11

Temperament-Based Parent Training for Addressing the Individual Needs of Elementary School- Aged children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Children without a Disability: A Comparison Study - The purpose of this study is to gain a greater understanding of temperament- based parental approach to addressing the needs of each child.
Updated 7/27/11

Yale Child Study Center Autism Program - This study about visual attention involves using a computer, answering survey questions, and a few interviews.
Added 7/27/11

The influence of social support, bullying and social problem solving skills on mental health in autism spectrum disorders - Dr. David Hamilton and Hayley Kennedy from ACU are conducting a study investigating depression and anxiety in autism spectrum disorders.
Added 7/20/11

Computer-Mediated Desensitization of Auditory Sensitivity for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder - We have explored ways to help individuals re-contextualize offending sounds, by pairing them with rewarding, computer-mediated experiences (such as playing a video game or manipulating images of one's favorite cartoon character).
Added 7/19/11

Sensory Processing, Stimming, and Arousal in Individuals with ASD - We are looking for adolescents and adults with ASD to examine the relationships between sensory processing, stimming, and arousal. The study consists of pre and post surveys as well as one hour wearing a wrist sensor that records electrodermal activity.
Added 6/7/11

Language Acquisition in Autism Spectrum Disorders - Stephanie Afflitto, in the Lab for Developmental Studies at Harvard University under Professor Jesse Snedeker is researching language acquisition in autism spectrum disorders.  We are currently seeking participants who are between age 5 and 10 years, on the autism spectrum and have average to above average language skills.
Added 5/18/11

Attentional Gating in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) - In this study we will use pencil and paper and computer tests to study visual attention in children with and without ASD.
Added 5/3/11

The Detection Study will examine how young children (with and without autism) ages 8-12 years search for information in complex scenes, and how attention may help them search.
Updated 4/14/11

“Look Who’s Talking!” Research study at the Shriver Center - This study looks at what children and adolescents pay attention to when listening to people speak in face-to-face conversation. We are particularly interested in observing the reactions of children and adolescents (ages 8-17) with autism spectrum disorders and their typically developing peers.
Updated 4/14/11

Foundations of Learning in Children with and without Developmental Disabilities - a research study whose purpose is to develop and/or improve on educational procedures for individuals with developmental disabilities.
Updated 4/14/11

Raising Children on the Autism Spectrum: Parental Needs - Research usually focuses on the needs of the patient, the child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This research is designed to help identify services parents with children with ASD believe they need for themselves and their families.
Added 2/14/11

Displaying Melody to Enhance Reading Expression in Children with Asperger’s Syndrome - The Communication Analysis and Design Laboratory at Northeastern University has developed a software program entitled ReadN’Karaoke that aims to enhance expression while reading aloud.
Added 2/3/11

Parent-School Collaboration Study - Our study will examine parent-school collaboration as it relates to parental and child characteristics. The study itself will involve the parent answering a survey about him/herself, the child with a disability, and the relationship with the school the child attends.
Added 12/13/10

Plasticity in Autism Spectrum Disorders: Noninvasive Magnetic Stimulation Studies - Study involves multiple sessions. Every session is 2-4 hours in length. Participants are paid $60/session. Sessions involve behavioral testing and application of noninvasive transcranial magnetic stimulation.
Added 12/10/10

Online Survey for Parents of Children on the Autism Spectrum - Researchers at Columbia University's Institute for Social and Economic Research and Policy are collecting life stories from parents of children on the autism spectrum.  Their goal is to gain a better understanding of the road to autism diagnosis.
Added 11/17/10

Pregnancy, Childbirth and Early Parenting in Women with ASD - I would like to interview as many mothers and mothers-to-be (with ASD) as possible as I feel they will provide us (medical providers) with the most important information about the sensory, communication, social-interaction challenges that they experience to help us become more attuned to their needs and provide a caring environment that will help them through this time in their lives.
Added 11/10/10

Behavioral Study of Visual Perception in 18+ year olds with ASD - We are paying $80 for participation in behavioral experiments ranging from recognizing animals, to memorizing faces. The study involves how visual processing might differ in people with high functioning autism or Asperger's (aged 18+).
Added 10/25/10

Temporal Integration - We will use time compressed speech to examine temporal integration in ASD subjects. Subjects will be presented a series of auditory stimuli that are systematically transformed.
Added 10/6/10

Computer Adaptive Testing of Adaptive Behavior in Children and Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders - Looking for 600 parents of children and youth with an ASD ages 3-21 from across the US to complete an on-line survey regarding their child's ability to perform everyday life tasks and about his/her behaviors.
Added 10/6/10

Learning to drive with ASD - Researchers at the University of Virginia are interested in hearing from parents of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), between the ages of 15-25, who are in the process of teaching their son/daughter to drive.
Added 9/27/10

The Correlations among ASD, Special Interests, and Religion - The ASD Lab at Boston University is studying the correlation among the level of systemization in ASD and the individual's inclination towards adhering to a religious belief and to developing a special interest.
Added 9/8/10

Brain Correlates of Social Interaction in ASD - We are a group of researchers are MIT. Our goal is to understand what brain areas are involved in typical social interaction and how these might differ in people with high functioning autism or Asperger's.
Added 7/28/10

Sensory Information Processing - We are neuroscientists at MIT studying how the brain makes sense of complex sensory information. Our study requires a 45 minute visit and pays $20. We are looking for adult subjects aged 18 years and older.
Added 6/22/10

fMRI Study of Moral Judgement in 18+ year olds with ASD - We are paying $80 for participation in our fMRI study about the brain areas involved in making moral judgements and how these might differ in people with high functioning autism or Asperger's (aged 18+).
Added 6/11/10

Research Opportunities at Boston University - Have fun while helping us learn more about the development of the language! Children with autism spectrum disorders between 5 and 10 years old. Come participate in computer games and other activities. Participants and families will receive gift certificates or money for participation. Travel and parking will be covered.
Added 6/1/10

Children ages 8-12 Needed to Participate in Research! - We are beginning a study to examine how young children ages 8-12 years search for information in complex scenes, and how attention may help them search. We wish to examine how autism affects visual attention and will compare typically developing children with children who have been diagnosed with autism.
Added 5/24/10

Language and Communication Research at the University of Connecticut - University of Connecticut researchers are working to understand the building blocks of language and communication in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Many individuals with ASD have volunteered to be in our study; now we are looking for just a few more people to participate! If you are at all interested in our work, please let us know!
Added 5/16/10

Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Descriptive Phenomenological Study of their Surgical Experiences - I am studying personal accounts of surgical experiences of persons with an ASD. I am studying this phenomenon to understand how nurses can support individuals with an ASD and their families in a more caring and effective manner when having surgery. My study will be conducted entirely through email interviews.
Added 5/7/10

Autism and Health Care Survey from Washington State University - Our research focuses on the experiences of children with autism and their families with health care settings. We would very much appreciate it if your organization could help us recruit participants for our survey.
Added 4/22/10

Are there more migraineurs among mothers of autistic children than in the general population? - It seems like a high number of mothers of autistic children suffer from migraines. If this is actually the case, this observation could open new questions about possible causes of autism. By completing this survey you can help us have a better understanding of the etiology of autism.
Added 4/22/10

Belongingness, Social Support, and Identity in Adolescence - Your participation in a research project is requested, which involves completing a brief online survey. The title of the study is "Belongingness, Social Support, and Identity in Adolescence". Michigan State University graduate student, Carolyn Hayter, supervised by Dr. Evelyn Oka, is conducting the research. Specifically, the study examines how students and their parents view adolescents’ school experiences to better understand ways to help them to succeed in school. Middle school and high school students and their parents are invited to participate in this research.
Added 4/20/10

fMRI Correlates of Social Interaction in 18-40 year olds with ASD - Our goal is to understand what brain areas are involved in typical social interaction and how these might differ in people with high functioning autism or Asperger’s. We will ask you to participate in an assessment and a brain scan. Payment for the study is $30/hour.
Added 4/12/10

Participant Database for Persons Interested in Research Studies of Developmental Disorders - Healthy Children and Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders Ages 6 to 13 Needed for Research Studies at MGH! You will be compensated for your time ($20-$50/hour) and travel.
Added 4/6/10

Brain Responses to Fearful Faces in Autism - The study involves visits to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Children’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston. On each visit, you will participate in a different kind of brain imaging while you look at faces and houses. All brain imaging techniques used are safe and non-invasive.
Added 4/1/10

Research on Autism and Related Developmental Disorders - The Developmental Disorders Genetics Research Program (DDGRP) at Bradley Hospital and Brown University is looking for genes involved in autism and related disorders, such as intellectual disability (formerly known as mental retardation).
Added 2/22/10

Adaptive Behavior and ASD - We are looking for parents of children/youth with ASD to review an adaptive behavior survey. Parents will engage in an on-line focus group forum (14 day active discussion period). The information will be used to develop a better way to understand how children/youth with ASD are managing the daily tasks.
Added 1/25/10