Researching the Social Worlds of Autistic Children: An Exploration of How an Understanding of Autistic Children's Social Worlds is Best Achieved. (21st April 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ellis, Jaimie
• Is Part Of: Children & society. Volume 31:Number 1(2017:Jan.)
• Page Start: 23
• Page End: 36
• Publication Date: 2016-04-21
• Subjects: autism -- children -- disability -- research methods -- research participation; Children -- Care and hygiene -- Periodicals; Child welfare -- Periodicals; Child welfare -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Children -- Social conditions -- Periodicals; Child development -- Periodicals; 362.70941
• DOI: 10.1111/chso.12160
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0951-0605

Abstract

Abstract : Since United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, social research has encouraged the involvement of children in research concerning them. However, there is little evidence to demonstrate how autistic children can be involved. Little is known about which methods are appropriate to research the social worlds of autistic children: adult‐centred or child‐centred methods? Empirical research with autistic children is used to illustrate the contribution that methods which involve children, and methods that do not, can make to the understanding of autistic children's social worlds. I argue while autistic children's participation contributed towards greater understanding, the understanding was enriched for having parents and teachers participate too.