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Considering the Autistic advantage in qualitative research: the strengths of Autistic researchers

Aimee Grant Orcid Logo, Helen Kara

Contemporary Social Science, Volume: 16, Issue: 5, Pages: 589 - 603

Swansea University Author: Aimee Grant Orcid Logo

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DOI (Published version): 10.1080/21582041.2021.1998589

Abstract

Autism is often viewed as an impairment, preventing Autistic individuals from achieving success in the world. We argue that, Autism can be an enhancement, particularly in some professional contexts, including qualitative research. However, Autistic people experience higher rates of unemployment and...

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Published in: Contemporary Social Science
ISSN: 2158-2041 2158-205X
Published: Informa UK Limited 2021
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URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa59008
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first_indexed 2021-12-14T16:07:00Z
last_indexed 2021-12-22T04:26:38Z
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spelling 2021-12-21T18:11:24.1348469 v2 59008 2021-12-14 Considering the Autistic advantage in qualitative research: the strengths of Autistic researchers 6a1ce3bc54c692c804e858b70d2e4bd2 0000-0001-7205-5869 Aimee Grant Aimee Grant true false 2021-12-14 PHAC Autism is often viewed as an impairment, preventing Autistic individuals from achieving success in the world. We argue that, Autism can be an enhancement, particularly in some professional contexts, including qualitative research. However, Autistic people experience higher rates of unemployment and underemployment (lower skills/part-time). The social model of neurodiversity highlights the role of inaccessible workplaces and practices. Alongside this, the concept of the ‘Autistic Advantage', a strengths-based model, emphasises the ways in which Autistic people are assets to the social structures in which they exist. Two late diagnosed Autistic women, acknowledged as qualitative research experts, review the literature on Disability, neurodiversity and research; outline their own professional strengths; discuss their professional strengths in the light of the literature; and make recommendations for Autistic researchers and their neurotypical colleagues. Autistic qualities and preferences can be strengths in qualitative research teams. This includes long periods of concentration (hyperfocus), leading to ‘flow’ and creative thinking, attention to detail, and detailed knowledge of topic areas that are of interest to the individual. We conclude that qualitative research teams can benefit from working inclusively with Autistic researchers. We present guidance to facilitate inclusive working, without which Autistic researchers may be Disabled by their work environment. Journal Article Contemporary Social Science 16 5 589 603 Informa UK Limited 2158-2041 2158-205X Autism, Autistic, qualitative, researchers, reflexivity, positionality 8 12 2021 2021-12-08 10.1080/21582041.2021.1998589 COLLEGE NANME Public Health COLLEGE CODE PHAC Swansea University 2021-12-21T18:11:24.1348469 2021-12-14T16:04:27.9021923 Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences School of Health and Social Care - Public Health Aimee Grant 0000-0001-7205-5869 1 Helen Kara 2 59008__21886__df227e08d93b465bae00292bd0e56c61.pdf 59008.pdf 2021-12-14T16:07:32.7184479 Output 1613499 application/pdf Version of Record true © 2021 The Author(s). This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License true eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
title Considering the Autistic advantage in qualitative research: the strengths of Autistic researchers
spellingShingle Considering the Autistic advantage in qualitative research: the strengths of Autistic researchers
Aimee Grant
title_short Considering the Autistic advantage in qualitative research: the strengths of Autistic researchers
title_full Considering the Autistic advantage in qualitative research: the strengths of Autistic researchers
title_fullStr Considering the Autistic advantage in qualitative research: the strengths of Autistic researchers
title_full_unstemmed Considering the Autistic advantage in qualitative research: the strengths of Autistic researchers
title_sort Considering the Autistic advantage in qualitative research: the strengths of Autistic researchers
author_id_str_mv 6a1ce3bc54c692c804e858b70d2e4bd2
author_id_fullname_str_mv 6a1ce3bc54c692c804e858b70d2e4bd2_***_Aimee Grant
author Aimee Grant
author2 Aimee Grant
Helen Kara
format Journal article
container_title Contemporary Social Science
container_volume 16
container_issue 5
container_start_page 589
publishDate 2021
institution Swansea University
issn 2158-2041
2158-205X
doi_str_mv 10.1080/21582041.2021.1998589
publisher Informa UK Limited
college_str Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
hierarchytype
hierarchy_top_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
department_str School of Health and Social Care - Public Health{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences{{{_:::_}}}School of Health and Social Care - Public Health
document_store_str 1
active_str 0
description Autism is often viewed as an impairment, preventing Autistic individuals from achieving success in the world. We argue that, Autism can be an enhancement, particularly in some professional contexts, including qualitative research. However, Autistic people experience higher rates of unemployment and underemployment (lower skills/part-time). The social model of neurodiversity highlights the role of inaccessible workplaces and practices. Alongside this, the concept of the ‘Autistic Advantage', a strengths-based model, emphasises the ways in which Autistic people are assets to the social structures in which they exist. Two late diagnosed Autistic women, acknowledged as qualitative research experts, review the literature on Disability, neurodiversity and research; outline their own professional strengths; discuss their professional strengths in the light of the literature; and make recommendations for Autistic researchers and their neurotypical colleagues. Autistic qualities and preferences can be strengths in qualitative research teams. This includes long periods of concentration (hyperfocus), leading to ‘flow’ and creative thinking, attention to detail, and detailed knowledge of topic areas that are of interest to the individual. We conclude that qualitative research teams can benefit from working inclusively with Autistic researchers. We present guidance to facilitate inclusive working, without which Autistic researchers may be Disabled by their work environment.
published_date 2021-12-08T04:15:59Z
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score 11.012678

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