Autistic Friendship Study

Objective:
The main goal of this study is to look at how autistic friendships support well-being.

Quick facts:

• Adolescents can earn up to $257 for completing surveys and up to three experimental visits
  • Autistic adolescents can bring a friend of their choosing for the experimental visits
  • Adolescents complete up to three in-person experimental sessions where we record brain activity, eye movements, and heart rate all at once (1-2 hour each)
• Parents/Caregivers can earn up to $20 for completing surveys 

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Who

Autistic adolescents and
a friend of choice between the ages of 10 to 17 years old.

The friend should be someone the autistic adolescent has chosen. This can be a family member (cousin, sibling, etc.), childhood friend, or otherwise who is within 2 years of age (older or younger) of the autistic adolescent. The friend does not have to have an autism diagnosis.

By request, we are able to have other participants stand in for the friend.

What

Compensation

The study will be two in-person visits (1-2 hours each).
Adolescents will:

• Complete a clinical evaluation (30-40 minutes)
• Complete surveys and a semi-structured interview (45-60 minutes)
• Play collaborative games while recording brain activity, heart rate, and video all at once!
• ​Complete 14 daily diaries post-session (5 minutes per day)

Caregivers will:

• Complete separate surveys and questionnaires (30-45 minutes)

Participants:

• Each adolescent (the autistic adolescent and their friend of choice) can earn up to $257
  • ​$10-$20 for clinical evaluation
  • $35 for surveys and semi-structured interview
  • $50 each EEG session
  • $3 per daily diary (and a $30 bonus if all are completed!)

Caregivers:

• Parents and caregivers involved can earn up to $20 for the surveys completed.