Research Requests
AV regularly receives requests from researchers to advertise opportunities for our community to participate in their research projects.
Each of the research studies listed below are current academic studies researching various aspects of the lives and experiences of individuals within our community.
They include information about the goal of the study, the participant eligibility criteria, what participation involves, and any remuneration or compensation for your time and input.
If you meet the eligibility criteria for any of the below studies and would like to participate, please click the link provided for that study to find out more or to register.
If you would like to know more about any of the studies, please contact the nominated researcher for more information.
Information for researchers
If you are an academic researcher seeking participants for a current study relevant to our community and you would like to advertise your study on our website, Please complete our research request form.
This form will ask you a series of questions about your study. Our admin team will use your responses to prepare a dot-point summary for upload to our website.
The form will also ask you to upload a PDF of your study's ethics approval. Please note that we cannot upload a study without an ethics approval.
When both of these steps have been completed, our research volunteer will be in contact with you to confirm that we have all of the required information and to advise you of the next steps.
All research requests are being processed by our Engagements Coordinator, which means that it may take a little longer for your study to be uploaded or for you to receive a response.
Studies currently seeking participants
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Self-reporting Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Symptoms in Autistic Adults
Neurodivergence and Social Media use post social media banThe research is interested in understanding the patterns of social media use among neurodivergent people, including the benefits and challenges that social media may bring for neurodivergent young people. University/ Institution/ Faculty conducting this study: Deakin University Dr Laura Pecora - Lecturer with Faculty of Health/School of Psychology Who is eligible to participate? Neurodivergent individiuals (Diagnosed or Self-Identified) between the ages 16-30. What does participating involve? An online questionnaire expected to take approx. 10-15 minutes. Are participants eligible for compensation / remuneration for completing the study? Participants may choose to enter a draw for one of five $50 gift cards. How will this research help people with Aspergers/Autistic people? This study aims to research the impacts of the social media ban in Neurodivergent individuals in Australia. How can I register to participate? To register interest in participating click HERE The Plain language statement is available at the same link. Primary Contact for this Research Project Madeleine Scullin - Project Team Member: s223037449@deakin.edu.au Closing date: 27 August 2026 |
Autism Across GenerationsWe are conducting a survey study to better understand the impact of parental characteristics on the mental health and masking of autistic adolescents/youth. University/Institution/Faculty conducting this study: University of British Columbia Melissa Lazo, Ph.D Candidate - Co-Investigator Thomas Schanding, Ph.D - Principal Investigator Who is eligible to participate? Autistic adolescents/youth and one of their parents. The autistic youth must be ages 13-21, live in Canada, USA, England, or Australia, must have a formal autism diagnosis, and no history of intellectual disability. The parent must live with the youth at least 3 days of the week. What does participating involve? The parent and youth will complete two one-time online surveys. The Parents survey takes 10 minutes to complete, while the adolescent survey takes approximately 15 minutes. The parent survey will include a background questionnaire and an autism traits questionnaire. The adolescent survey will involve a background questionnaire, as well as an Autism trait, mental health and masking questionnaire. Are participants eligible for compensation/remuneration for completing this study? Participating families will have the opportunity to enter a draw to win one of ten $50CAD (or equivalent) e-gift cards. Is travel required? No travel is required. Surveys completed online. How will this research help the Autism community? Although autism has a strong genetic component and research highlights the benefits of autistic people interacting with other autistic individuals, little is known about families in which both a parent and child are autistic. Even less research has explored how having an autistic parent may influence the mental health and masking of autistic teens. By focusing on these relationships, this project seeks to bring forward the voices of autistic adolescents and their families. The knowledge gained can help inform more effective, affirming supports for autistic teens and their parents, ensuring that services are better tailored to their lived experiences and unique strengths. How can potential participants register to participate? Interested individuals can go to this link: https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4V20HTRZw8HJTfM Where can interested Individuals find more information? More information can be found by contacting Melissa Lazo: melilazo@student.ubc.ca Close Date: 31/08/2026 |
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Parenting as an Autistic Adult: Challenges, Strengths, and Support NeedsThis ethics-approved PhD project explores the parenting experiences, strengths, challenges, and support needs of Autistic adults. It includes interviews with Autistic parents and an online survey comparing Autistic and non-Autistic parents, with attention to Autistic fathers’ underrepresented perspectives.University/Institution/Faculty conducting this study: Deakin University, School of Psychology, Faculty of Health Aida Karimi - PhD Candidate Who is eligible to participate? Adults aged 18+ who are parents or caregivers and can read English. Study 1 is open to formally diagnosed or self-identified Autistic parents. Study 2 is open to Autistic and non-Autistic parents. Autistic fathers are especially encouraged to participate. What does participating involve? Study 1 involves one online/remote interview with an Autistic parent, taking 60-90 minutes. Study 2 involves one online survey, taking 25-35 minutes. Questions cover parenting, stress, family functioning, support needs, and Autistic parenting experiences, which may feel personal or sensitive. Participants may skip questions or stop at any time. Are participants eligible for compensation/remuneration for completing this study? Study 1 interview participants will receive a AUD $30 gift card after completing the interview. Study 2 survey participants may enter a random draw to win one of four AUD $50 gift cards. Compensation details are provided in the Plain Language Statement. Is travel required? No travel is required. Participation is conducted online or remotely. How will this research help the Autism community? This research aims to improve understanding of Autistic parents' real experinces, strengths, challenges, and support needs. Findings may help inform more respectful, neuro-affirming parenting supports, services, and community resources. By including Autistic fathers and other underrepresented parents, the study may also help make future research and services more inclusive of diverse Autistic parenting experiences. How can potential participants register to participate? Potential participants can contact the researcher, Aida Karimi, by email at s223692188@deakin.edu.au to request the Plain Language Statement or further information about the study. Close Date: 15/02/2027 |
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Cognitive Impulsivity as a Mediator Between Autistic Trait Severity and Substance Use in Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
This study investigates whether impulsivity explains why young adults with ASD are at higher risk of alcohol and drug use problems. Participants complete three short gamified computer tasks measuring impulsive thinking and an online survey covering autistic traits, alcohol use, drug use, and gaming behaviour.University/Institution/Faculty conducting this study:
Federation University Australia, Institute of Health and Wellbeing
Dr Natalia Albein Urios - Senior Lecturer, Psychology
Who is eligible to participate?
Young adults aged 18 to 30 years who have a formal diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from a qualified health professional, are able to read and understand English, and have access to a computer, laptop, or tablet to complete the online tasks.
What does participating involve?
Participation is fully online from home in one session, with no travel required. Participants complete three short gamified computer tasks (approximately 45 minutes) and an online survey covering autistic traits, alcohol and drug use, and gaming behaviour (approximately 15 to 20 minutes). The survey includes questions about substance use which some may find sensitive. Total time: 60 to 75 minutes.
Are participants eligible for compensation/remuneration for completing this study?
Yes, all participants who complete the study will receive a $30 gift card as a thank you for their time. The gift card will be provided electronically upon completion of the study. No additional paperwork is required.
Is travel required?
No travel is required. The study is conducted entirely online.
How will this research help the Autism community?
Autistic young adults are known to be at significantly higher risk of alcohol and drug use problems, but the reason for this has never been identified. If this study confirms that impulsivity is the mechanism linking autism to substance use, it will give clinicians a specific and treatable target for early intervention. Rather than simply telling autistic young adults to reduce their substance use, support workers and psychologists will be able to focus on building impulsivity management skills, which addresses the underlying cause. This could lead to more effective, targeted support programs specifically designed for autistic young adults.
How can potential participants register to participate?
Interested participants can contact the research team directly to express their interest and receive the study link once it becomes available.
Please email Harleen Kaur at harleenk@students.federation.edu.au or Dr Natalia Albein Urios at n.albeinurios@federation.edu.au.
Close Date: 15/12/2027
Emotional Neglect in Autistic AdultsPrior to this study, questions reflecting autistic adults' childhood experiences of emotional neglect were developed from interviews with autistic adults. This study will test how well the questions work and how responses relate to mental health, quality of life and close relationships, helping assess whether they offer useful insights into autistic adult wellbeing.University/Institution/Faculty conducting this study: Griffith University Bonnie Ray - PhD candidate Dr Jessica Paynter - Chief Investigator Who is eligible to participate? We are looking for Autistic adults (18+) without intellectual disability who identify with experiencing childhood emotional neglect. Participation is open to individuals who self-identify as Autistic and individuals with a formal diagnosis who live in Australia. What does participating involve? Participation will involve completing a 40-minute online survey which can be completed on a desktop computer, tablet, or phone. You can stop the survey and come back to it at any time. The survey contains questions about emotional neglect in childhood, depression, anxiety, quality of life, emotional and social support, how you relate to others in relationships as an adult, questions about your social and communication characteristics and demographic characteristics (e.g, age, gender). Are participants eligible for compensation/remuneration for completing this study? Participants can choose to enter a prize draw for one of four $50 WISH gift vouchers. The first survey redirects to a different one to collect contact details for those who wish to enter the prize draw, and this data is not linked to responses on the main survey. The gift cards will be sent via email and SMS. Is travel required? No travel required. How will this research help the Autism community? This research aims to improve how emotional neglect in childhood is understood and measured for Autistic people, and how it relates to adulthood wellbeing, Most existing questionnaires about childhood experiences were not designed with Autistic individuals in mind, which means they may miss or misunderstand important parts of their experience. By developing and testing a more accurate and relevant measure, this research may lead to:
How can potential participants register to participate? Potential participants can follow this link to the survey - https://redcap.link/CENsurvey For more information, email bonnie.ray@griffithuni.edu.au, or download the information sheet via the survey link. Close Date: 30/11/2026 |
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