

Research Opportunities
Updated on August 2, 2023
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Consider signing up to participate in research. Think of all the families before you who participated in research, so your child could have quality therapy and programs.
Would you like to post a research opportunity? If you would like to post a Research Opportunity on this website or on our MMAA Facebook page, please reach out to our Treasurer at blatsie63@yahoo.com and request a Research Opportunity form. We try and keep this page current, but if you find an error, please let us know! Thanks so much!
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Name of research project: Effects of Remote Vignette-Based Training on Social Initiations of Young Adults with Autism
(added 1/24/2023)
Simple explanation of project (including age of participants): We are recruiting individuals 16 years and older who are interested in improving their conversational skills with acquaintances in new workplace or school settings. Our project involves pre/post visits to GVSU in Allendale for a simulate workplace experience and Zoom-based practice sessions in between.
Risks and Benefits (to families or scientific community): We do not anticipate risks to participants other than potential exposure to COVID-19 when they visit the GVSU campus, however, we will uphold all CDC recommendations to minimize this risk. Potential benefits to participants include increasing their awareness / confidence when initiating conversation with new acquaintances. The scientific community may benefit by learning more about the usefulness of remote training for improving individuals’ in-person conversational skills.
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Name of PI, researchers, and administrative contacts (with credentials): Amanda Karsten, PhD, BCBA-D (principle investigator); Emily Murray and Haillie McDonough (undergraduate research assistants)
IRB or Ethics Review Approval: GVSU IRB 22-254-H (approved April 2022, amended January 2023)
Contact Information (Phone, Email, Website) karsteam@gvsu.edu, 269-377-4478 (cell)
Dates of opportunity? We will be collecting data through the end of April 2023 and possibly during the summer months
Cost or honorarium? There is no cost for participating in this project.
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Project Name: Family Well-Being and Music Engagement During COVID-19 (Updated 6/30/20)
Participant Criteria: Parents of Children with ASD aged 6 months to 5 years of age
Dates: Current
Project Description:
Participants complete a secure online survey about family well-being and parent-child music engagement during COVID-19. Participation will take approximately 15-30 minutes to complete.
Participants receive access to online children’s music activities and can enter a lottery to win (1/30 chance) a $25 Amazon gift card for their participation. Participants who previously completed the survey can complete the survey again during this time of COVID-19.
Access the survey at https://is.gd/MusicChildrenFamilies
PI/Credentials: Miriam Lense, PhD
Contact Information: 615-873-0852; SocialMusicResearch@vumc.org
Cost/Honorarium: Upon completion of the survey, participants can enter a lottery to win (1/30 chance) a $25.00 Amazon Gift Card.
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Project Name: Objective and Subjective Stress Responses of Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Project Description: We are looking for college students with autism or ASD and are 18-26 years old. Participants will undergo an online stress stimulation via Zoom. The study lasts 35 minutes but the stimulation lasts only 5 minutes. Participants will wear one of our heart rate devices during the stimulation. Afterwards, participants will be asked to participate in a 30-45 mins interview about their experience and how they handle stress generally. Participants will also be given survey questionnaires about themselves. We will analyze data from the heart rate device and their stress perception.
Risks and Benefits (to families or scientific community): The risks and how we mitigate these risks are as follows: Increased heart rate (we encourage you to do your best during the stimulation), uncomfortable feeling being on Zoom (we encourage you to look into your computer camera and it’s okay if you don’t), germs and viruses (our heart rate devices are sanitized before your use and you are given sanitary wipes to use for your heat rate device), fatigue (you can pause when taking the survey questions and an optional break between stress stimulation and interview), uncomfortable feeling answering some questions (we encourage you to do your best), and confidentiality and privacy (all data collected are stored in MSU’s encrypted OneDrive system and in a password protected laptop). Despite these risks, a benefit from this study includes getting to know yourself, how you process and understand stressful situations, and other personal characteristics you may not yet know of.
Name of PI, researchers, and administrative contacts (with credentials): PI: Dr. Gloria Lee, PhD in Rehabilitation Psychology and Certified Rehabilitation Counselor. Co-PI: Jarhed Peña, MRC, LLPC, CRC, master’s in Rehabilitation Counseling and Certified Rehabilitation Counselor. Study Team Members: Michael Yeomans, MA, CRC, master’s in Rehabilitation Counseling and Certified Rehabilitation, and Caitlin Johnson, undergraduate student at MSU pursuing psychology.
IRB or Ethics Review Approval: STUDY00006138, approved by Michigan State University’s Biomedical and Health Institutional Review Board. Approval Date: 6/29/2021, no expiration date.
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Name of research project: The Early Hearing Study at MSU
Simple explanation of project (including age of participants): The Early Hearing Study is a Michigan State University research study about how young babies respond to sound. We are interested in seeing babies who have a sibling diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental condition (such as Autism or Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity disorder).
If you and your baby would like to join us, your participation would involve a one-time visit with a licensed audiologist at the Hearing Health Center (Sparrow Professional Building) in Lansing, MI, when you baby is 3-4 weeks old. Your baby will listen to snap or click sounds, and we will ask you to complete some brief questionnaires.
You and your baby may be eligible to participate if you are: 1)18 years or older, 2) have a child diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental condition (such as Autism Spectrum Disorder), and 3) recently gave birth (1-3 weeks ago) or are expecting soon.
Risks and Benefits (to families or scientific community): The risks to this study are minimal and participants will not directly benefit from participating in this study. However, your participation in this study may help us better understand how young babies use their ears and brains to respond to sounds in their environment.
Name of PI, researchers, and administrative contacts (with credentials): PI Nicole Talge, PhD, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics; Research Director Melanie Adkins, MPH
IRB or Ethics Review Approval: Approved by Michigan State University Intuitional Review Board, Study ID LEGACY 15-669M
Contact Information (Phone, Email, Website): For questions or more information about The Early Hearing Study at MSU, please email ehs@epi.msu.edu, call 517-884-2098, or complete a secure contact form https://msu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cOwBQdMTbgsHTCJ
You can also visit the MSU Neurodevelopment and Health Research Group at www.facebook.com/MSUNeurodevHealth/
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Name of research project: Character Strengths of Individuals with ASD
Simple explanation of project (including age of participants): We are looking for college students with autism or ASD to complete an online survey. The purpose of this study is to understand how one’s character strengths, daily functioning and social support relate to the perceived personal value and life satisfaction among individuals with ASD. This study is voluntarily basis. The information in the survey will be kept anonymous and data will only be shared as group data. Interested participants can choose to opt out of participation at any time.
Risks and Benefits (to families or scientific community): Regarding risks: There are no foreseeable risks associated with participation in this study. However, participating in this study may have the following issues that may make you feel uncomfortable. Confidentiality. You complete personal information in the demographic form and packets of surveys. It is extremely rare that personal information is breached. We take the following steps to ensure your personal information is not shared without each of your consent. Researchers who are in this study are obligated to follow the Code of Ethics for their practice. All survey data (informed consent, demographic forms, survey measures) contain only a code (not names). Regarding benefits: Your participation in this study may immediately not benefit personally from being in this study. However, the information may allow you to see your personal strength and whether you are satisfied about your life. It will also help us to understand how personal strength can help one to feel satisfied in life. We can help others who feel less aware of their own personal strength to be aware of their strength so that they can stay satisfied in life.
Name of PI, researchers, and administrative contacts (with credentials): PI: Dr. Gloria Lee, PhD in Rehabilitation Psychology and Certified Rehabilitation Counselor. Co-PI: Dr. Susan Smedema, PhD in Rehabilitation Psychology and Certified Rehabilitation Counselor. Study Team Members: Dr. Beatrice Lee, PhD in Rehabilitation Psychology and Certified Rehabilitation Counselor; Judy Huang MS, doctoral student in Rehabilitation Psychology; and Jarhed Peña, MRC, CRC, doctoral candidate in Rehabilitation Counselor Education.
IRB or Ethics Review Approval: STUDY 00006150, approved by Michigan State University’s Biomedical and Health Institutional Review Board. Approval Date: 5/13/2021 and Study #: 2021-0585 by the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Contact Information (Phone, Email, Website) Dr. Gloria K. Lee (leekalai@msu.edu) at Michigan State University, Dr. Susan M. Smedema (ssmedema@wisc.edu) at University of Wisconsin-Madison, or Dr. Beatrice Lee, ylee6@utep.edu.
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Dates of opportunity? August 2021 through August 2022.
Cost or honorarium? No cost. First 20 participants will earn a $20 Amazon Gift Card upon completion and following the survey instructions on how to receive it.
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Name of research project: Emotion Regulation and Psychological Adjustment of Siblings With and Without Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Simple explanation of project (including age of participants): Siblings and their caregivers are needed to help researchers better understand the connection between emotion regulation and psychological adjustment of siblings. 11-to-18-year old siblings of children with and without Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities (IDD; e.g., Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, etc.) and their caregiver (only one caregiver is necessary to participate) are eligible for this study. Sibling and caregiver participants will each complete a one-time online survey, which can take up to 45-minutes to complete. This study is online, so it is open to children and caregivers throughout the USA. Both child and caregiver participants can earn a $10 Amazon gift card (for a total of $20) for completing the online survey.
Risks and Benefits (to families or scientific community): There are minimal risks associated with this research. Some of the questions asked may make the participant feel uncomfortable, and the participants will be free to not answer any questions. In addition, participants may become fatigued by the quantity of questions asked. The participants again will be free to stop at any time or not answer any question. Results of this study will support researchers who develop interventions and programs to support siblings of children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Therefore, clinically relevant or clinically significant findings of the research study will benefit the subjects in the form of programs and interventions to support their psychological adjustment and well-being
Name of PI, researchers, and administrative contacts (with credentials): PI- Kristin Rispoli, NCSP, PhD, Researcher (PI-proxy)- Nicholas Ramazon, MPS, M.A.
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IRB or Ethics Review Approval: MSU Study ID: STUDY00007027
Contact Information (Phone, Email, Website): Nicholas Ramazon, Ramazonn@msu.edu, http://lab.rispolik.msu.domains/
Dates of opportunity? Currently running the study, March 2022 to May 2022
Cost or honorarium? There is no cost associated with participating in the study. Child and caregiver participants can earn a $10 Amazon gift card (for a total of $20) for completing the online survey
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Name of research project: Meanings of Autism & Work (added 2/23/2023)
Simple explanation of project (including age of participants): _ We are looking for participants to take part in a study about autism and employment. We are recruiting autistic people (with or without a diagnosis) ages 14 and older, as well as professionals and advocates who work in the area of autism and employment. All participants will have the opportunity to participate in an interview. Autistic people will also have the opportunity to take photos about work and invite a researcher to “shadow” them at their job. The lead researcher is Ariel Cascio, Ph.D., Central Michigan University College of Medicine. To take part or ask questions, to take part or ask questions, contact 989-774-1502 or cascio-research@cmich.edu.
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Risks and Benefits (to families or scientific community): _Interviews pose no risk greater than the risk of
everyday life. Shadowing may pose a risk that people at work will know that you are autistic if they see us shadowing you. We will not tell them if you do not want us to, but they might guess. If you do not want people at work to know that you are autistic, you should say no to shadowing. There are no direct benefits to you if you take part in this study. The results of this study may benefit society by helping people know more about the daily lives of autistic people at work and in job searches.
Name of PI, researchers, and administrative contacts (with credentials):_ Ariel Cascio, Ph.D. (PI), Jun Hwan Kim, Brandon Snel, Aashima Sarin (medical students), Jacob Krehbiel (autistic community research assistant), Central Michigan University Institutional Review Board (IRB administrative)
IRB or Ethics Review Approval: IRB #2022-1323, approved by Central Michigan University
Contact Information (Phone, Email, Website) _cascio-research@cmich.edu (email or text), 989-774-1502 (calls only)
Dates of opportunity? _February 2023-June 2024
Cost or honorarium? _No cost. Participants will receive a $25 gift card to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Meijer, or Target for each interview. There is no gift card for shadowing.
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P.O. Box 27462 Lansing MI 48909