CURRENT RESEARCH PROGRAMS
The ACN supports credible research which may result in the betterment of the lives of people impacted by autism. On this page we regularly post requests for participants from researchers, in the hope that we can help work towards a better future.
Posted 13 March 2021
Researchers from Flinders University, University College London, Macquarie University and the Luke Priddis Foundation are currently recruiting participants for a study on literacy instruction for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The project aims to develop and pilot a new model of literacy instruction involving the computer-based ABRACADABRA program (ABRA) and supplementary clinician-led reading activities. You can find more information about ABRA using this link https://literacy.concordia.ca/resources/abra/teacher/en/using_abra.php.
What is involved?
This research is being conducted over two phases. In Phase One, we will conduct 60-minute focus groups involving up to three adolescents with ASD, up to three parents of children with ASD, and up to three allied health clinicians from the Luke Priddis Foundation. The focus groups will be conducted at the Luke Priddis Foundation in Penrith and will aim to uncover the practical considerations involved in shared book reading and group reading instruction in a clinical setting for children with ASD. Findings will inform our design of a new literacy instruction model using the computer-based ABRA program and supplemented with clinician-led shared book reading.
Phase Two of the project will focus on examining the effects of the new literacy instruction model for children with ASD. We are aiming to recruit up to 60 children with ASD to take part in this phase. Participants will each attend two 90-minute assessment sessions where they will complete tests of reading and related abilities. Each participant will then be randomly allocated to one of three experimental conditions: i) ABRA group (ABRA only), ii) ABRA and shared book reading group (ABRA+SBR), and iii) no instruction group (NI).
Participants assigned to the ABRA only group will receive 26 hours of literacy instruction using the ABRA program and delivered at the Luke Priddis Foundation over the following 13 weeks. During this same period, participants assigned to the ABRA+SBR group will receive 26 hours instruction involving ABRA and clinician-led shared book reading delivered at the Luke Priddis Foundation. Children in the NI group will continue their normal literacy learning activities during the 13-week instruction period. Please note that children in the NI group will complete an intensive block of ABRA instruction at the end of the study. Participants in all three groups will complete a second (post-instruction) assessment at the end of the 13 weeks to test for gains achieved during the instruction period.
Next Steps?
We are currently recruiting for Phase Two of the project. If you have any questions or would like further information about the project, Dr Bailey at ben.bailey@flinders.edu.au or on 0434 518 242.
This research project has been approved by the Flinders University Human Research Ethics Committee (Project Number 2844). For more information regarding ethics approval of the project, the Executive Officer of the Committee can be contacted by telephone on 8201 3116, by fax on 8201 2035 or by email human.researchethics@flinders.edu.au.
Ben Bailey
Ph.D, BSpPath, CPSP
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Speech Pathologist
College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Flinders University
E: ben.bailey@flinders.edu.au
T: @DrBenBailey
What is involved?
This research is being conducted over two phases. In Phase One, we will conduct 60-minute focus groups involving up to three adolescents with ASD, up to three parents of children with ASD, and up to three allied health clinicians from the Luke Priddis Foundation. The focus groups will be conducted at the Luke Priddis Foundation in Penrith and will aim to uncover the practical considerations involved in shared book reading and group reading instruction in a clinical setting for children with ASD. Findings will inform our design of a new literacy instruction model using the computer-based ABRA program and supplemented with clinician-led shared book reading.
Phase Two of the project will focus on examining the effects of the new literacy instruction model for children with ASD. We are aiming to recruit up to 60 children with ASD to take part in this phase. Participants will each attend two 90-minute assessment sessions where they will complete tests of reading and related abilities. Each participant will then be randomly allocated to one of three experimental conditions: i) ABRA group (ABRA only), ii) ABRA and shared book reading group (ABRA+SBR), and iii) no instruction group (NI).
Participants assigned to the ABRA only group will receive 26 hours of literacy instruction using the ABRA program and delivered at the Luke Priddis Foundation over the following 13 weeks. During this same period, participants assigned to the ABRA+SBR group will receive 26 hours instruction involving ABRA and clinician-led shared book reading delivered at the Luke Priddis Foundation. Children in the NI group will continue their normal literacy learning activities during the 13-week instruction period. Please note that children in the NI group will complete an intensive block of ABRA instruction at the end of the study. Participants in all three groups will complete a second (post-instruction) assessment at the end of the 13 weeks to test for gains achieved during the instruction period.
Next Steps?
We are currently recruiting for Phase Two of the project. If you have any questions or would like further information about the project, Dr Bailey at ben.bailey@flinders.edu.au or on 0434 518 242.
This research project has been approved by the Flinders University Human Research Ethics Committee (Project Number 2844). For more information regarding ethics approval of the project, the Executive Officer of the Committee can be contacted by telephone on 8201 3116, by fax on 8201 2035 or by email human.researchethics@flinders.edu.au.
Ben Bailey
Ph.D, BSpPath, CPSP
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Speech Pathologist
College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Flinders University
E: ben.bailey@flinders.edu.au
T: @DrBenBailey
