Knowledge and Use of ASD Intervention Practices by Allied Health Professionals

Information Sheet

Question Title

PARTICIPANT INFORMATION SHEET

Knowledge and Use of ASD Intervention Practices by Allied Health Professionals

This project has been approved by the Griffith University Ethics Committee, see Griffith University Research Ethical Clearance Ref No. 2016/495

The Research Team.

Dr Jessica Paynter School of Applied Psychology E-mail: j.paynter@griffith.edu.au Phone: (07) 5678 7058	Professor Deb Keen Autism Centre of Excellence School of Education and Professional Studies E-mail: d.keen@griffith.edu.au
Dr David Trembath School of Allied Health E-mail: d.trembath@griffith.edu.au	Ms Rhylee Sulek School of Allied Health E-mail: r.sulek@griffith.edu.au

Reason for this research.
This research is being undertaken by researchers from Griffith University, Dr Jessica Paynter, Dr David Trembath, Professor Deb Keen, and Ms Rhylee Sulek who aim to better understand the use and knowledge of specific practices used by allied health professionals who work with people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We are seeking speech pathologists, occupational therapists, psychologists, and behaviour analysts who work with people with ASD in an intervention context. We will be asking you questions about: (1) you (education, age etc), (2) your work environment, (3) your intervention practices, (4) your attitude towards using new practices, and (5) sources of information. Responses will be collated and only the amalgamated results will be shared with the wider research community (e.g., via journal articles, or conference presentations).

Research Question.
What are the factors related to reported knowledge and use of various intervention practices by allied health professionals?

What you will be asked to do.
You are invited to participate in this research by completing an online questionnaire. The questionnaire is anonymous, you will not be asked to identify yourself. It is estimated that the questionnaire will take approximately 30 minutes to complete.

Participation in this research is entirely voluntary. Your decision to participate will not result in any kind of penalty or judgement or in any way impact upon your current or future relationship with Griffith University or the researchers. Withdrawal from the research will not be possible upon return of the completed questionnaire as it will not be possible to identify individual responses given data is collected anonymously.

Expected benefits.
Although you may not benefit directly from participating in this research, this research will more generally contribute to understanding the factors that underlie the use of specific practices by allied health professionals who work with people with ASD. It is hoped in the future that this information will assist Griffith University, as well as the wider research community, to understand and better develop strategies or supports to facilitate learning and intervention for people with ASD.

Risk management
No risks are envisaged from participating in this research. Individual responses are not identifiable to the researchers as the questionnaires are completed anonymously. Griffith University conducts research in accordance with the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Research Involving Humans. Electronic data will be stored on password protected computers and research servers belonging to the research team. Data will be retained on these servers for a period of 5 years, and will be destroyed using the University confidential waste service, in accordance with Griffith University policy when it is no longer required. Please feel free to contact the researchers if you have any questions. We also ask that participants do not post information about the study on social media webpages (e.g. Facebook) to ensure anonymity of participants.

Feedback to you.
Results from this study will be disseminated via publication in academic journal/s as well as presentation at conferences. As participation will be anonymous, it will be not be possible to share results with you specifically. However all participants are invited to contact the researchers should you wish to receive aggregated results which will be provided via a lay summary.

Questions, concerns and further information.
Griffith University conducts research in accordance with the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research. Please feel free to contact the researchers if you have any questions. If you have any additional questions or concerns about ethical issues, please contact the Manager, Research Ethics, at Griffith University Human Research Ethics Committee (research-ethics@griffith.edu.au ; (07) 3735 4375).