Research Studies
A note for parents/caregivers and Autistic individuals interested in participating:
The following studies below are seeking participants! Some of these studies are a small time commitment and are research-based questionnaires only, while other studies may take place over a few months and include therapy, parent/caregiver training or coaching, or some other form of Autism support, therapy, or guidance. A few studies may involve compensation or a chance to get a gift card, which will be noted below.
Researchers: Do you want to post a study?
Please read our information on how to post a study here: https://tinyurl.com/StudyAST
The Autism Society of Texas has no affiliation with the organizations below and does not endorse or approve studies. All questions and concerns about studies should be directed to the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and/or the poster of the study. Thank you!
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Featured Studies
The following organizations have made a donation to the Autism Society of Texas to be included in our “Featured Studies” section. We are grateful for donations that support our staff time and help us assist the Texas Autism community!
UT Health School of Public Health
The purpose of this study will be to learn whether there is a connection between the social determinants of health and use of health care services in autistic adults. Social determinants of health are factors such as age, race, gender, insurance status, and housing status that can impact the health of an individual.
End date of study enrollment period is 08/31/2024.
Time required for the study: 20 minutes
Compensation: Drawing for 5 $100 Amazon e-gift card. To enter the drawing, we will need to collect your name and email to send winners their gift cards. As a thank you for your time, $1 will be donated to the Organization for Autism Research.
We want to learn if adults with autism utilize more healthcare resources and services and if any social determinants of health are associated with this. Social determinants of health are factors such as age, race, gender, insurance status, and housing status that impacts the health of an individual. To participate in this study, you must be a parent or caregiver of an adult 18-65 that has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and English speaking.
Here’s the link if you are interested in participating: https://uthtmc.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_88hrLBeAwzj5Q3k
For more information, please contact: Martha I. Gonzalez Garcia at: 956-739-2006 or email at: martha.i.gonzalezgarcia@uth.tmc.edu
Baylor College of Medicine
The purpose of this study is to better understand how adolescents respond to different emotions and social situations.
End date of study enrollment period is June 1st, 2025.
Time required for the study: 6 hour, in-person visit
Compensation of approximately $145 will be offered.
If you know a child who is affected by anxiety, depression, or autism, you know that it can affect the way they respond to different emotions and social situations. Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine are looking to understand these emotions better by using advanced computer technology that examines facial expressions and language use in teens with different mental health backgrounds with the hope that this information will help inform better diagnoses for a variety of conditions. We are inviting families with children between the ages of 12-17 with or without anxiety, depression, or autism to be part of this research study. Participants will receive psychological evaluation and compensation for their time. To learn more and get involved, contact Becca Greenberg at ACES-Study@bcm.edu or call us at 713.798.1918.
Studies
University of Kansas
Supporting social-communication interactions for caregivers and young children waiting for autism assessment.
End date of study enrollment period: 12/31/2024
Time required for the study: 1-2 hrs/ week for approx. 24 weeks
Participant Compensation: Yes, approx. $75 USD for participation, first half delivered at start and second half delivered at completion of study
I am recruiting caregivers of young children (12-36 months) who have been referred for an autism assessment and are currently waiting, and are interested in learning strategies to support their little ones. I am looking for families with internet capabilities to participate in a self-paced online intervention and if needed meet with me over Zoom for some support learning the strategies if needed.
Contact: Kaitlin Brunt Email: kaitlinbrunt@ku.edu Phone: 778-678-7711
Rowan University
Supporting social-communication interactions for caregivers and young children waiting for autism assessment.
End date of study enrollment period: 08/30/2024
Time required for the study: 9 total hours (1hr intake, 6hrs of group participation, 2hrs parent training) – all conducted virtually
Participant Compensation: None
Researchers at Rowan University are conducting a study examining how parents of children with autism prefer to participate in virtual parental well-being groups. Parents will be randomized into either a 6-hr workshop group, a 3-week group with 2-hr sessions once per week, or a 6-week group with 1-hr sessions once per week. The groups will target parental well-being, be entirely virtual, and will be scheduled based on participant availability. After the completion of the virtual group session(s), parents will receive two sessions of virtual parent training to learn skills to address their child’s challenging behavior.
Contact: Abigail Moretti Email: morett94@rowan.edu Phone: 401-489-0185
University of Kansas
The purpose of this study is to measure how parents and nonspeaking children with autism communicate and interact with each other.
End date of study enrollment period: 07/01/2025
Time required for the study: 1.5-2 hours
Participant Compensation: $25 gift card and summary of developmental testing results
How does your young child with autism communicate and play with you? We are conducting a research study at University of Kansas to measure social interaction and play in children with autism who don’t use spoken language as their primary mode of communication. We are looking for young children ages 4-6 years old with an autism diagnosis to participate in play based assessments (~1.5-1.75 hours) in the comfort of their home via Zoom. You will receive $25 for your participation. Please reach out to Olivia Boorom at olivia.boorom@ku.edu or 913-416-9543 for more information.
More information: https://bradycommunicationlab.ku.edu/mica
Contact: Olivia Boorom Email: olivia.boorom@ku.edu Phone: 913-416-9543
Baylor University – Sibling SUCCESS
The purpose of this study is to increase positive interactions between child with autism and sibling.
End date of study enrollment period: 09/01/2024
Time required for the study: Depends 3 hours once, 6 hours once, 4 hours for 4 days
Participant Compensation: Amazon gift cards for full participation.
Free Autism Program for siblings, Practitioners, Teachers and those that work with children with autism. 3 different programs available: Practitioner – 3 hours, Sibling only – 6 hours and both children 4 hours on 4 days in Waco, TX only.
Contact: Bonnie Lindley Email: Siblingsuccess@baylor.edu Phone: 254-710-4444
University of Texas at Austin
The purpose of this study is to improve cognition, mood, memory with photobiomodulation.
End date of study enrollment period: 01/01/2026
Time required for the study: 3 hours at UT, and 8 weeks at home 10 min
Participant Compensation: $400.00
We are recruiting adults, adolescents, and children (ages 4-60) with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder to participate to study “Effects of Transcranial Infrared Light Stimulation on Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder” Compensation: Adult participants and parents/guardians of adolescents and children receive $400 total for 2 in-person visits, and 8 weeks of participation at home. Adolescents and children receive their choice of a toy or $10 gift card for each in-person visit.
Web link for more information on the study: https://labs.la.utexas.edu/gonzalez-lima/participate-in-our-research/
Contact: Gabrielle Agnew Email: gabrielamd@utexas.edu. Phone: 225-472-6993
Binghamton University
To better inform culturally appropriate interventions, our study aims to better understand parents’ assessment and preference for different parenting styles.
End date of study enrollment period: 11/15/2024
Time required for the study: 1 hour
Participant Compensation: Chance to enter a drawing for 1 of 20 $50 Amazon gift card.
Now enrolling: Parents of autistic children (3-7 years old) in the U.S for an online study exploring parents’ assessment and preference for different parenting styles. Who we are enrolling: Parents of autistic children, 3-7 years old, with a suspected or confirmed diagnosis of autism. Parents must be over the age of 18 years old, read/speak English, be at least a 2nd generation American citizen (at least one parent born in the U.S.), have lived in the U.S. the 50-100% of their life, and have access to the internet. Why: To better inform culturally appropriate interventions, our study aims to better understand parents’ assessment and preference for different parenting styles. What: Participants will watch videos of parent-child interactions and complete questionnaires.
Contact: Jessica Granieri Email: autism@binghamton.edu Phone: 631-617-1372
University of Texas Health Science Center Houston
The purpose of this study is to get a better understanding of the relationship how individuals cope with or regulate their emotions, how they think they are managing with daily tasks such as paying attention to the tasks at hand, organizing their daily duties, and how they perceive their social life and health.
End date of study enrollment period: 06/30/2025
Time required for the study: 10-30 minutes
Participant Compensation: Through a lottery system, every 10 participants, one participant will be randomly selected to receive a $30 egiftcard.
The purpose of the present study is to understand the relationship between emotional regulation and executive functioning in adults with Bipolar Disorder and autistic traits. After completing our pre-screener, we will send you an email for the full survey where you will answer some questionnaires about your experiences. Your information will be kept confidential. You can email me at: antonio.pagan@uth.tmc.edu
Contact: Antonio Pagan Email: antonio.pagan@uth.tmc.edu Phone: 661-313-9149
University of Texas Health Science Center Houston
To help English-speaking young adults with autism and their Spanish-speaking parents navigate the transition to adulthood.
End date of study enrollment period: 10/23/2025
Time required for the study: 10 weeks
Participant Compensation: Parents can each receive $195 of gift cards and young adults can receive up to $195 for completing measures and $200 bonus gift cards if they are interested in an optional imaging aim.
Contact: Antonio Pagan Email: antonio.pagan@uth.tmc.edu Phone: 661-313-9149
For more information about the study: https://med.uth.edu/psychiatry/iniciando-la-adultez/
and www.tiny.cc/UTHealthHouston
Texas Christian University
We are conducting a research study on the effectiveness of screening tools in detecting autism spectrum disorders in children of both sexes.
End date of study enrollment period: 10/01/2024
Time required for the study: 10 minutes
Participant Compensation: None
We are conducting a research study on the effectiveness of screening tools in detecting autism spectrum disorders in children of both sexes. We are seeking parents or caregivers of children between the ages of five and eleven whose children have received a formal ADOS score. Participation will take no more than 10 minutes and will involve filling out a short survey. Participation is completely voluntary, and data will be deidentified and stored on locked computers at TCU.
Contact: Claire Thompson Email: c.e.thompson8@tcu.edu Phone: 978-880-1068
For more information about the study: https://tcu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cFT1Cd3xAuHEADk
UT Health Science Center at Houston
To understand the experiences of autistic adults who have participated in psychiatric inpatient hospitalizations.
End date of study enrollment period: 08/23/2025
Time required for the study: 1.5 hours
Participant Compensation: None
Hi all, we are inviting you to participate in a research study focused on your experiences during psychiatric inpatient hospitalization. The purpose of this research is to better understand what adults undergo during psychiatric hospitalization in order to make recommendations to improve these experiences. If you agree to be in our study, we will ask you to complete a brief Qualtrics survey about you and your experiences, with the option to participate in a recorded Zoom session as well if you would like. Your total time commitment is expected to be a one time, 30-minute session to complete the Qualtrics survey, with an additional hour session if you complete the interview as well. Interviews will be conducted using a secured Zoom link. The survey can be completed at: https://uthtmc.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0r1fVM2MMxXTscm
Contact: Juliana Vanderburg. Email: juliana.l.vanderburg@uth.tmc.edu Phone: 512-698-7064
UT Health Houston
To understand the experiences of autistic burnout and trauma for autistic adults.
End date of study enrollment period: 07/31/2025
Time required for the study: 15 minutes
Participant Compensation: $10 for completing the survey
The purpose of this study is to learn about distinct and overlapping symptoms of PTSD and autistic burnout in order to help clinicians know how to treat both conditions. You are invited to take part in this study because you are an adult with an experience of autistic burnout and trauma. If you agree to participate, you will be asked to respond to questions in a brief survey. The total amount of time you will be in this study is 15-30 minutes. The first 100 valid responses to the survey will receive a $10 e-gift card for your participation. You may also be contacted for a brief interview about your experiences with autistic burnout and trauma, if you are willing to participate in this.
For more information about the study: https://uthtmc.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ctEZZOhndS8xD4W
Contact: Antonio Pagán Email: antonio.pagan@uth.tmc.edu Phone: 661-313-9149
UT Health Houston
To help Latino young adults transition to adulthood and their Spanish-speaking parents receive support.
End date of study enrollment period: 09/15/2025
Time required for the study: 1.5 hours per week for 10 weeks
Participant Compensation: Each young adult and parent could earn up to $195 for participating and completing measures.
The Launching! to Adulthood program helps autistic young adults reach their full potential, while supporting their parents. The program is 10 weeks long and is completely virtual. Young adults and parents attend separate weekly group meetings and young adults work 1-on-1 with a coach to help them with their goals. We have programs in English, Spanish, and for military families. We look forward to serving you!
For more information about the study: http://tiny.cc/UTHealthHouston
Contact: Antonio Pagán Email: antonio.pagan@uth.tmc.edu Phone: 661-313-9149
University of Texas at Austin
We are conducting a research study aimed at understanding the experiences of parents with children diagnosed with autism who have received applied behavior analysis therapy (ABA therapy) for a year or longer.
End date of study enrollment period: 09/15/2024
Time required for the study: 3 hours
Participant Compensation: None
The purpose of the study is to learn the experiences of parents of children with autism as it relates to receiving therapeutic services. In order to participate, you must be the parent of a child with autism. Your child must have received applied behavior analysis therapy (ABA therapy) for a year or longer. If you choose to participate, you will be asked to complete two questionnaires and possibly participate in an interview with one of the researchers. The surveys will take no more than 1 hour to complete. The interview will take no more than 2 hours to complete. Taking part in this research study is voluntary. You do not have to participate, and you can stop at any time.
For more information about the study: https://utexas.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3kCIkgZcBXjadOm
Contact: Patricio Erhard Email: patricio.erhard@utexas.edu Phone: 210-844-5831
Baylor College of Medicine
This study tests the effectiveness of a transdiagnostic cognitive behavioral therapy for autistic youth with anxiety and/or depression.
End date of study enrollment period 05/31/2025
Time required for the study: 12 1hr sessions of virtual treatment over 14 weeks; 10 hours of assessments over 4 visits
Up to $400 compensation through ClinCards.
HAABIT is a research study at Baylor College of Medicine that provides free virtual cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for autistic teens aged 10-17 who experience symptoms of anxiety and depression. The treatment involves weekly therapy tailored for autism and four assessments, for which you will be compensated up to $400. There is no cost to participate in the study.
Please fill out this eligibility form https://tinyurl.com/HAABITStudy or contact Jessica Cheng and Callie Murphy at AutismTeenTherapy@bcm.edu to express interest or learn more!
University of Houston Cognitive Development Lab
The purpose of this study is to explore the visual experiences of children with or at high-risk of autism spectrum disorder during social play with their parents.
End date of study enrollment period is September 16th, 2026
Time required for the study: 1-4 hours
Participants will be given a $20 Amazon Gift Card, Family Passes to the Children’s Museum of Houston, and Gift-Bundle (T-shirt, Books, Crayons, Stickers, etc).
The UH Cognitive Development Lab invites families with children between the ages of 3 months and 5.11 years to participate in our exciting research project! We are specifically looking for children with autism, children that have a sibling with autism, and/or children suspected of having autism. This project consists of a parent-child play session, and depending on the age of your child: a motor test, a vocabulary test, an IQ test, and/or the ADOS-2 (a gold-standard autism diagnostic test). Compensation will be provided alongside a full summary of your child’s results on the tests.
For more information, email Elizabeth Perkovich at esperkovich@uh.edu.
Social Media and Friendships Studies
Academic Studies
Sensory & Motor Behavior Studies
Speech Studies
We have no speech therapy study listings at this time! Studies coming soon!
Parent/Caregiver Coaching Studies
Other Studies and Categories
Studies coming soon! Please check back as we will update studies monthly!