A research project at the Faculty of Education in the University of Cambridge is looking for volunteers for a new study into the cognitive development of children with autism.
The aim of this study is to enhance our knowledge about the cognitive functioning of children with autism. More specifically, we are interested in the development of self-regulatory abilities and the promotion of effective self-regulation through an intervention.
This study will examine the development of a phenomenon known as private speech, which is thought to be a precursor to inner speech or internal thought. The developmental trajectory of private and inner speech will be examined in children with autism and compared with that of their typically developing peers. In order to do this, participants will be asked to complete executive function computer-based tasks. These will be presented to the children in the form of computer games.
A video-modelling intervention will then be carried out to promote private speech for the purposes of self-regulation and to promote its transformation into inner speech. The intervention has been designed to be carried out in the child’s school and to be administered by their teaching assistant/tutor.
We are looking for high-functioning children with autism all over England to take part. We are looking for participants with a mental age range between 7 and 9 years. Participants are invited to take part in the study and can also choose whether they would like to take part in the intervention.
For more details, please contact Aileen O’Connor.
Address: Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge
Email: avoconnor@gmail.com
Tel: 0750 797 9723