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autism and types of empathy - parent perspective

Ettina

Hi, guys, I'm doing a survey intended to be filled out by parents of autism spectrum kids - any functioning level, though it's more intended for HFA. (For those of you who are on the spectrum, don't fill this out about yourselves. Self-report and informant report involve different cognitive processes, and I'm specifically looking for informant report.)

It's commonly said that autistic kids lack empathy. But there are different kinds of empathy - the ability to figure out how someone else is feeling, and the emotional reaction you have to your perception of the other person's emotions. Most studies into 'empathy' in autism have only examined ability to figure out how someone else is feeling, and not the emotional reactions the person has when they do figure it out. Of the studies that have examined this area of empathy, some have asked AS people to report on their own experiences, others have measured physiological reactions. No one has examined how parents perceive empathy in their autism spectrum kids.

In addition, I'm also interested in studying the relationship between the two types of empathy and certain behavioral/personality traits in autistic kids, as well as whether additional diagnoses (such as ADHD or ODD) influence the child's empathy pattern.

If you want to participate, click this link:

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  • If I might add that, apart from the need to approach NAS first for permission, research involving individuals' personal experiences and perceptions is governed by ethical codes.

    For example who sees the results? Are the results anonymously presented? How is the personal data that provided the results disposed of?  

    Not least who you are, who you represent, is there a commercial application? Is this work being done for a commercial organisation, or is it academic research?

    It is commendable if you just want to research voluntarily to arrive at some answers, but you still have to consider ethics. If it isn't just you that's involved in this process you need to make this known.

    Also "empathy" is rather abused as a term, as something to do with Theory of Mind or Tantram's "interbrain" - but it varies from one application to another. It really needs to be defined explicitly.

    Sorry to sound pedantic, but nowadays there are legal (eg data protection), ethical and confifdetiality issues that need to be addressed. For example even evidence presented under a pseudonym or a code number, could, if not sufficient safeguards, still be identified with its originator.

    If you obtain responses to your questionnaires from someone who doesn't understand the risks that could involve them in involuntary disclosure that could be damaging to themselves or their children.

  • Hello Ettina

    I'm sorry but one of our community rules is that all research requests for surveys etc. need to be properly approved. For that reason I've had to edit out your link. To find out how to get permission and approval follow this link:

    http://www.autism.org.uk/about-autism/research/requests-for-research-and-participation.aspx

    Thanks.

    Sandra - mod