Improving the Validity and Generalizability of Adult Autism Research Through Incorporating Family and Cultural Contexts

Current conceptualizations of social competency often focus on value judgments (e.g., appropriateness) that are influenced by a combination of individual and environmental factors, such as a social partner’s understanding of autism. We posit that social performance is an understudied, but critical contributor to adult social functioning and present the Application of Skills and Knowledge (ASK) model to stimulate research in this area. The ASK model aims to separate social performance from other factors that may promote or adversely impact social functioning, therefore allowing for identification of treatment targets that do not solely rest on the individual. This framework can be used to accelerate future instrument and intervention development efforts to support well-being and community participation for autistic adults.

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Impact of Recent Findings on Study Design of Future Autism Clinical Trials

CNS Spectrums ◽

10.1017/s109285290000835x ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 49-56 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Eric Hollander ◽

Ann Phillips ◽

Bryan H. King ◽

Donald Guthrie ◽

Michael G. Aman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clinical Trials ◽

Study Design ◽

Lessons Learned ◽

National Institutes Of Health ◽

Crossover Designs ◽

Autism Research ◽

Subject Selection ◽

Adult Autism ◽

Statistical Issues ◽

Multicenter Clinical Trials

ABSTRACTThere are specific challenges to studying the design of pharmacologic trials in child/adolescent and adult autism, such as subject stratification and parallel versus crossover designs. This article describes how optimal study design is influenced by subject selection and outcome measures chosen. Lessons learned in study design from the Research Units on Pediatric Psychopharmacology Autism Network trial with risperidone, Seaver Center trials with fluoxetine and valproate, Dartmouth trials with amantadine, and National Institutes of Health secretin trials are highlighted. The Internet System for Assessing Autistic Children system for managing multicenter clinical trials in autism and statistical issues in autism research are also described.

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What is taken for granted in autism research?

Behavioral and Brain Sciences ◽

10.1017/s0140525x1800225x ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 42 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Michele Ilana Friedner

Keyword(s):

Research Methodologies ◽

Communicative Practices ◽

Autism Research ◽

Autistic People ◽

The Social ◽

New Research

Abstract This commentary focuses on three points: the need to consider semiotic ideologies of both researchers and autistic people, questions of commensurability, and problems with “the social” as an analytical concept. It ends with a call for new research methodologies that are not deficit-based and that consider a broad range of linguistic and non-linguistic communicative practices.

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Applying Item Response Theory Modeling to Identify Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder

Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research ◽

10.1044/2020_jslhr-19-00284 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 63 (6) ◽

pp. 1916-1932 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Haiying Yuan ◽

Christine Dollaghan

Keyword(s):

Item Response Theory ◽

Item Response ◽

Sensitivity And Specificity ◽

Social Communication ◽

National Database ◽

Communication Disorder ◽

Social Communication Questionnaire ◽

Autism Research ◽

The Social ◽

Pragmatic Communication

Purpose No diagnostic tools exist for identifying social (pragmatic) communication disorder (SPCD), a new Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition category for individuals with social communication deficits but not the repetitive, restricted behaviors and interests (RRBIs) that would qualify them for a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We explored the value of items from a widely used screening measure of ASD for distinguishing SPCD from typical controls (TC; Aim 1) and from ASD (Aim 2). Method We applied item response theory (IRT) modeling to Social Communication Questionnaire–Lifetime ( Rutter, Bailey, & Lord, 2003 ) records available in the National Database for Autism Research. We defined records from putative SPCD ( n = 54), ASD ( n = 278), and TC ( n = 274) groups retrospectively, based on National Database for Autism Research classifications and Autism Diagnostic Interview–Revised responses. After assessing model assumptions, estimating model parameters, and measuring model fit, we identified items in the social communication and RRBI domains that were maximally informative in differentiating the groups. Results IRT modeling identified a set of seven social communication items that distinguished SPCD from TC with sensitivity and specificity > 80%. A set of five RRBI items was less successful in distinguishing SPCD from ASD (sensitivity and specificity < 70%). Conclusion The IRT modeling approach and the Social Communication Questionnaire–Lifetime item sets it identified may be useful in efforts to construct screening and diagnostic measures for SPCD.

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