Adult Autism Diagnosis and Identity
Please read the below information regarding research that you may wish to participate in:
Colleen Burke is a trainee Clinical Psychologist and is completing her doctoral thesis in the University of Limerick under the supervision of Professor Patrick Ryan. Colleen’s interest is in the area of adult autism diagnosis and to contribute to research that may improve understanding and support for adults post-diagnosis.
The purpose of this study is to explore how adults experience receiving an autism diagnosis later in life and how this may relate to identity and self-understanding. This research aims to contribute to an improved understanding of adult autism diagnosis and inform future clinical practice and research.
If you agree to take part, you will be invited to participate in a one-to-one semi-structured interview lasting approximately 30-60 minutes. In this interview you will be asked questions about your experiences of receiving an autism diagnosis, with a focus on identity and adjusting post-diagnosis. You will receive the interview questions beforehand.
Depending on your preference, interviews can take place either:
- Audio or video recorded (depending on your preference) online via Microsoft Teams recording function.
- Audio recorded in person at a safe, private and agreed location via an audio recording device.
Taking part is completely voluntary. You may choose not to participate or withdraw from the study without giving a reason and without any negative consequences. You can withdraw your data within two weeks of your interview taking place. At that stage, it may not be possible to distinguish your data from that of other participants.
If you have any questions about any aspect of the research, you can contact:
Project Investigator Contact Details: Colleen Burke, Trainee Clinical Psychologist Psychology Department, University of Limerick Burke.colleen@ul.ie
Principal Investigator Professor Patrick Ryan, Psychology Dept. University of Limerick Email: patrick.ryan@ul.ie
The participant information sheet can be found by clicking here.
