Autism research, autistic co-researchers, and PhD projects: a collaborative autoethnography

This publication is included in the Autistic Autism Scholarship Project. one author of this publication is identified as autistic in the project.

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McLennan, H., Aberdein, R., Saggers, B., & Gillett‐Swan, J. (2025). Autism research, autistic co-researchers, and PhD projects: a collaborative autoethnography. The Australian Educational Researcher, 52(6), 4031-4053. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13384-025-00887-5

Publication date: 15 Aug 2025 Added to AutiHub: 4 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
Publisher source (DOI) Full text OpenAlex source

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Authors

Publication authors
4
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 4 (25.0%)
  1. Helen McLennan
  2. Rachel Aberdein *
  3. Beth Saggers
  4. Jenna Gillett‐Swan

Abstract

Abstract While participatory autism research is a priority in supporting the evolution of research in the field of autism, there has been limited consideration of community involvement in higher degree by research (HDR) projects such as PhD study. This is an important issue in higher education that requires focus, as HDR projects should represent significant contributions at the forefront of relevant disciplines. Detailed in this paper is a collaborative autoethnographic approach used to highlight the experiences of a PhD project team that sought to overcome challenges inherent to HDR study to include an autistic adult in a co-researcher role throughout a PhD project. The team (a PhD candidate and two research supervisors who identify as neurotypical, and an autistic research partner) used recommended guidelines for including autistic adults in co-researcher roles as a framework for their reflections. Key findings informed by the reflections include: (a) the importance of prioritising participatory research elements early; (b) building trust through relationship building; (c) using organised communication methods; (d) navigating a balance between authentic participation and PhD project completion; and (e) advocating for flexibility in funding sources. Recommendations are provided for others intending to incorporate elements of participatory research in HDR projects and are relevant beyond the field of autism to other disciplines of HDR research with marginalised people.

Bibliography cited by this reference

Cited references are imported from external metadata sources when they are available. The list may be partial.

Cited bibliography overview

These indicators describe the bibliography cited by this publication. An author name is counted each time it appears in one cited reference, so the same person can be counted more than once. Names not yet linked to an author already present in AutiHub are treated as unknown, not as non-autistic. Last computed: 2 Oct 2026 07:58.

Cited references
41
With a DOI
33
Without a DOI, from raw bibliography text
8
13 / 41 (31.7%) cited references include at least one author identified as autistic.
References with data to complete
8 / 41 (19.5%)
References with detected author names
33 / 41 (80.5%)
Without detected author names
8
Without a structured title
8
Without a stable identifier
8
References with raw author names still to review
8
References with external metadata lookup issues
0
These indicators apply to cited references displayed on this page, after technical duplicates have been merged. A reference without a DOI can still support author statistics when a title and author names are available.
Author names detected in the cited bibliography
145
From DOI or external metadata
145
From validated raw bibliography text
0
Raw names already validated
0
Raw names still to review
8
96 / 145 (66.2%) names are linked to an author already present in AutiHub. 49 / 145 (33.8%) names are not yet linked.
Names linked to a person identified as autistic
40 / 145 (27.6%)
Calculated across all author names detected in the cited bibliography. Among names linked to an author already present in AutiHub: 40 / 96 (41.7%). Distinct people identified as autistic: 35 / 131 (26.7%).
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