Copelin, Michelle Ashleigh (2012) Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Explorations through Q-Methodology. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
As representations of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are plentiful and varied an exploration of how individuals construct their understandings of ASD was the primary focus of this study. Two competing discourses were identified as sources from which understandings are drawn upon: the dominant medical model and the more recent neurodiversity (ND) discourse. Q-methodology was used to identify shared understandings of ASD amongst forty-five participants from diverse backgrounds, through the sorting of sixty statements. The statements were drawn from a balance of medical model and neurodiverse discourses. These sources spanned several forms of media and included both professional and experiential knowledge of ASD. Completed Q-sorts were by-person factor analysed resulting in the emergence of eleven potential factors, four of which were deemed interpretable for this study. These factors varied in their dependence on each of the discourses. The first factor, Observing difference but valuing diversity, drew most heavily on the ND discourse. While the second factor, Deficits in Abilities and Behaviours, was more closely aligned with the medical discourse. The following factor, Difficulties in Social Interactions, focused heavily on the challenges within socialisation and drew on both discourses. While the final factor, Behaviourial Rigidity, also drew on both discourses but was primarily concerned with interests and behaviours. It was found that experiential understandings of ASD favoured the ND discourse, conversely having no personal experience aligned more closely with the medical model.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours) |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Historic - Faculty of Sciences - Department of Psychology (Up to 30 Jun 2013) |
| Supervisors: | Charlotte Brownlow |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Science (Honours) |
| Date Deposited: | 29 Sep 2025 23:53 |
| Last Modified: | 29 Sep 2025 23:53 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) ; medical model ; neurodiversity ; Q-methodology ; representations |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52229 |
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