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SPCE 290: Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders

Provides specific suggestions to help with assignments requiring research in SPCE 290.

What you need to do...

The "research part" of this assignment:

"You will need to conduct a literature search and identify a research article that has been published since 2005 that discusses a common misperception related to autism....Students may not select the MMR vaccine or the gluten free diet as a topic."

Choose your database

For this topic, PsycINFO (with its psychology focus) will likely be your best choice.  Though if you want to examine misconceptions related to autism as it's seen in the classroom, ERIC (the education index) would be better.  Try both!

Choose your topic and search terms

You may have a misperception in mind already, from experience or from previous research you've done.  Great!  Go with it!  Take your topic to a database like APA PsycInfo or ERIC.

If you need ideas, you could search using these terms, spread over two boxes:

  • misperceptions OR misconceptions
  • autism

A search like that could help you to identify articles which discuss the misperceptions related to autism, so you can choose a misperception for your focus.

Two search boxes in an unnamed database with these terms:  1st box: misperceptions OR misconceptions  2nd box: autism

You may find an article to discuss in your post using this method, or you may want to get more specific by focusing on a certain misconception.

Consider examining the references referred to in a research article for ideas of other titles to consult.

Place limits on your search

Source Type filter box show, with a check mark next to "Academic Journals"Notice that in ERIC and APA PsycInfo you can limit your search by date and to journal articles using the Filters options.

Drop-down menu under search box shown, with "Past 10 years" chosen