Participants Required for Studies

Inclusive Workshop for Autistic people (age 55+) with learning disabilities

Our Ageing, Health and Social Care project are inviting Autistic people with learning disabilities to share their thoughts and feelings about getting older and the support that they would like to have as they age. If you or someone you know might be interested in taking part in an interactive and arts-informed in-person workshop in Glasgow on the 4th of March, then please register your interest here: Workshop: in-person

For more information about the project please visit: AHSC Project Page or email Bryony: b.nisbet@hw.ac.uk

Online Workshop for professionals, support staff and carers

Our Ageing, Health and Social Care project are inviting professionals, support staff and carers to share their views regarding ageing, health and care in regard to older autistic people that they support. If you or someone you know might be interested in taking part in an interactive and arts-informed online workshop on the 6th of March, then please register your interest here: Workshop: Support Practitioners

For more information about the project please visit: AHSC Project Page or email Bryony: b.nisbet@hw.ac.uk

Short survey for 10-18 year-olds

This survey takes about 10 minutes. We are testing whether or not this is a good survey for the metacognitive skills that are needed for primary and secondary school. Metacognition is “thinking about thinking”. In terms of this survey, metacognitive skills would cover study skills. For instance, monitoring your comprehension, planning an extended writing piece, or evaluating a completed school task.

If you are between the ages of 10 and 18 and still in school, please click the link below for more information and to complete the short survey. Your help is appreciated.

Take the Survey


Understanding How We Think About Thinking – Kym Craig

(Now online! – planning task, movie task and questionnaires)

The term metacognition was first defined as “thinking about thinking” by Flavell in 1979. Metacognition has been found to be important for learning languages, communication, social skills, focus, recalling information, problem solving, and self directed learning (Ennis, 1985; Facione, 1990; Flavell, 1979; Halpern, 1998; Lai, 2011; Paul, 1992; Willingham, 2007). However, metacognition is not easy to observe, so measuring it has been difficult (Akturk & Sahin 2011; Georghiades, 2004; Schraw & Moshman, 1995; Veenman et al, 2006; among others).

The purpose of this study is to use several measures including a new measure of metacognition – the Puzzle Task – to look for patterns of strengths and weaknesses in metacognitive skills and how those patterns relate to academic and social skills.  Training areas of weakness can help bridge the gap between IQ and academic skills and may also help improve social skills. Results of this study will be posted in the project area once recruiting is completed.

The study takes approximately 120 minutes to complete, and is done in 4 online sessions.  If you are between the ages of 10 and 18 and are interested in taking part in the study please get more information and sign up here:

Sign Me Up!


CLOSED – Story co-creation with autistic people – focus groups on mental health, miscommunication, misunderstandings

While autistic people seem to be more likely to experience mental health difficulties, the reasons for this are still badly understood.

In this study, you would be asked to participate in online focus groups (either text or video chat depending on your preference). The aim is to create stories with other autistic participants and the researcher. The stories aim to depict instances of: a) miscommunication or misunderstanding between autistic and non-autistic people; b) difficulties coping with uncertainty or the unknown. The stories must represent potential or actual situations experienced by autistic people in these areas to capture your experiences and viewpoints.

The focus groups will consist of discussions around miscommunication/ misunderstanding with non-autistic people, around uncertainty, and your feelings towards these experiences and how they may affect your well-being.

The study takes approximately 1 hour to complete. If you are autistic, over 18, and can take part in online or text chats online, please get in touch with me at lc97@hw.ac.uk.


Closed – Adult Participants Needed

Understanding Your Own Thought Processes – Kym Craig

Thank you to everyone who participated in my research testing a questionnaire and Puzzle Task. That research has closed. The results were used to adjust the Puzzle Task so it was ready for use in schools with students ages 10-18. Results of your work found that metacognitive skills as measured by the Puzzle Task are significantly related to achievement. It was also found to be a theoretically sound task in that the different activities strongly related to each other. Thank you very much for your help.

Puzzle Task