“Autism research is in crisis”: A mixed method study of researcher’s constructions of autistic people and autism research

This research summary can be incorporated into a lecture or shared with students as a reading to demonstrate how psychological science explores the diversity of human experience. This resource can also be used to encourage students to identify the major components of a research study (i.e., the hypothesis or study question, sample, method, and findings). Students can be asked to identify potential limitations of the study and encouraged to discuss the implications for our understanding of human behavior. Keywords highlight how concepts within and across pillars are incorporated into a single research study.

This study aimed to understand how experts in autism research view and describe autistic individuals and the field of autism research itself. It also examined whether involving autistic people in the research process affects the use of respectful and non-discriminatory language when talking about autistic individuals.

Participants included 195 autism researchers, mostly from Western countries, primarily the United Kingdom and North America. Participants completed a survey with open-ended questions about autism and autism research. The researchers conducted a content analysis of participants’ answers to categorize narratives and identify ableist cues (i.e., ways of talking about autism that reflect dehumanization, objectification, and stigmatization). They also used statistics to see if the inclusion of autistic people in research predicted fewer ableist cues. Using medicalized narratives of autism (e.g., talking about autism as a disability in a person that needs to be treated) was associated with a greater likelihood of ableist cues, while including autistic people in research was associated with a lower likelihood of ableist cues. Researchers’ views on autism varied, reflecting core disagreements in the field, such as whether the focus of research should be on tackling “autism” or reducing the barriers to societal inclusion for autistic people. The study highlights the importance of including autistic people in autism research. The results suggest that how researchers conceptualize autism can influence the presence of ableist language in their work. This finding underscores the need for ongoing dialogue and reflection in the field of autism research. Future research could explore how these constructions influence research outcomes and the lives of autistic people.

Botha, M., & Cage, E. (2022). “Autism research is in crisis”: A mixed method study of researcher’s constructions of autistic people and autism research. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 7397. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1050897opens in new window

Autism, Language, Prejudice, Discrimination, Culture, Neurodevelopmental, Stress, Social

The development of resources to broaden diversity and representation in the teaching of high school psychology resources is an APA Committee of Teachers of Psychology in Secondary Schools initiative supported by funding from the American Psychological Foundation David and Carol Myers Fund. This resource was developed by Kara Ayers, PhD; Emily Lund, PhD; Erika Sanborne; and Allison Shaver.