• E-learning pedagogy and good practice in the field.
• Early development, interaction and communication in children on the autism spectrum
• Educational interventions for children with autism
• Evaluation of interventions
• The fundamental nature of teaching and learning in autism (particularly the role of perception, memory, concept development, attention and emotion)
• Autism and language
• Quality of life issues for adults on the autism spectrum
• Promotion of self-advocacy and autonomy for adults with autism
• People on the autism spectrum as co-researchers
• The history of autism and its representation in texts

More information on our current and past research projects.

Research Students

Four members of the Autism Team are currently available for supervision of research degrees. Instruction can be provided part-time and full-time across MPhil, EdD, or PhD levels.

If you have a research proposal that you would like to discuss, please contact us.

Current topics being researched:

• Cultural differences in attitudes to the teaching of personal skills to children with ASD
• A study of the process of development of services for children with ASD in Saudi Arabia
• A comparison of the effects of aerobic and anaerobic exercise on behaviour, sleep patterns, and attention to learning situations in children with ASD undergoing Daily Life Therapy
• Attitudes towards autism spectrum disorders in secondary school teachers
• Factors affecting use of short breaks (respite care) in families of children with autism spectrum disorders
• Factors contributing to quality of life for adults with autism and additional learning disability in specialist day services
• The process of developing policy and services for individuals with ADD in a nation with devolved educational, health and social services responsibilities
• Factors leading to effective e-learning communities among participant in a blended learning programme on ASD
• Video as a teaching and self-help tool for adults with ASD
• Factors in optimising life outcomes for children with developmental disability
• Identifying and creating criteria for the design of indoor/outdoor spaces for people on the autistic and/or neurodiverse spectrum via online/virtual focus groups