Understanding Research
In knowledge lies power…
It is not often that the parent, teacher, or friend of a person with autism spectrum disorder is also a scientist. Whether you’re a lawyer or a plumber, a homemaker or a musician, making sense of autism research may seem a daunting task. Learning to understand and evaluate autism research, however, is easier than you might think, and well worth the effort. Becoming a knowledgeable consumer of research will empower you as you advocate for a person with an ASD.
Become an Informed Consumer of autism Research
- Why Care About Autism Research? This IAN article explains why research matters — and why it takes so long.
- Lather, rinse, repeat: The importance of long-term studies in autism. Why it's necessary to study autism over time.
- This Just In: Autism Is Caused by [Fill in the Blank] Bombarded by conflicting headlines about autism? This article by IAN tries to help you make sense of it all.
- Understanding Research: An Autism Researcher Answers Your Questions Dr. J. Kiely Law, an autism researcher and parent, explains the research process.
The following articles are presented courtesy of The Organization for Autism Research
- How to Be a Savvy Consumer of Sources of Autism Information
- Understanding the Science Model
- A Uniform Framework for Evaluating Research Studies
- Gold Standard of Evidence: The Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
Autism Theories
What scientific theories exist to explain the development and occurrence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and the behavior of people with ASD?
- Mothers' Diabetes Linked to Risk of Autism
- Researchers Look for Clues to Autism in the Environment
- ASDs: Exploring Pregnancy and Birth Factors
- Prevalence: How Many People Have an ASD?
- The Extreme Male Brain Theory of Autism
- Cognitive Theories Explaining ASDs
- Insights from Genetics
- Insights from Neuroscience
- Environmental Aspects
Get to know Researchers
Profiles of the people making discoveries, such as Drs. Catherine Lord, Raphael Bernier, Louis Reichardt, and more.