Research team contacts

Principal Researcher:

Associate Professor Sofia Mavropoulou, School of Education, QUT

Associate Researcher:

Dr Glenys Mann, School of Education, QUT

Research Student:

Mr. Joseph Athiende, School of Education, QUT

Research Centre / Group:

Centre for Inclusive Education

What is the purpose of this research?

The purpose of this project is to explore the perspectives of key stakeholders on their experiences of implementing Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) to support the behaviour and learning of autistic students in state high schools in Queensland. This research project is being undertaken as part of a PhD study conducted by Mr Joseph Athiende.

Are you looking for people like me?

The research team is inviting:

  • autistic students who:
    • go to a Queensland state high school
    • are enrolled in grades 8, 9, or 10
    • have had behaviour support at school for at least a term.

Learn more about how autistic students can take part in the research

  • parents/guardians
    • of autistic students enrolled in years 8, 9, or 10 at state secondary schools in Queensland
    • whose children have had at least 10 weeks of behaviour support through the Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) framework.
  • teachers
    • registered teachers with experience in implementing PBL to support autistic students in years 8, 9, or 10 in state secondary schools in Queensland.
  • school leaders
    • deputy principal, head of department or head of special education services
    • with experience in implementing PBL. You are also invited because you are implementing PBL to support autistic students in years 8, 9, or 10 in state secondary schools in Queensland.

What will you ask me to do?

Autistic students

You can choose to meet face-to-face at the QUT Kelvin Grove Campus, or in a suitable community space or via Teams or Zoom.

We will meet with you 3 times (30 min each time).

Download student participant information (PDF file, 261.7 KB)

Parents/guardians

Your participation will involve an audio-recorded interview at QUT Kelvin Grove campus or a community space that you nominate, or online (via Teams/Zoom).

The interview will take about one hour. The interview will include open-ended questions about your experience with the behaviour supports your child has received or is currently receiving at their school.

Download parents/guardians participant information (PDF file, 153.8 KB)

Teachers

Your participation will involve an audio-recorded interview at QUT Kelvin Grove Campus or community spaces that you nominate, ensuring privacy and minimising distractions during the interview or online (via Teams/Zoom) that will take about one hour.

The interview will include open-ended questions about your experiences of implementing PBL to support autistic student/s at your school.

Download teacher participant information (PDF file, 161.7 KB)

School leaders

Your participation will involve an audio-recorded interview at QUT Kelvin Grove Campus or community spaces that you nominate, ensuring privacy and minimising distractions during the interview or online (via Teams/Zoom) that will take about 1 hour.

The interview will include open-ended questions about your experiences of implementing PBL to support autistic student/s as a school leader at your school.

All interviews will be audio recorded and will be conducted on weekdays and outside working hours.

Download school leader participant information (PDF file, 161.7 KB)

Are there any risks for me in taking part?

The research team has identified the following possible risks in relation to participating in this study:

Autistic students

We don’t think there are many risks for you in talking to us. We will be asking you to do things that you might normally do, such as talking to people about your behaviour support.

Risk of discomfort

You may experience discomfort from memories that may make you upset.

Strategies:

  • You can take a short break.
  • You can tell us if you don’t want to talk about something.
  • You can stop the interview and finish it another time.
  • You can stop taking part in the research.
  • We will also give you the questions before the interviews so you can know. what the interview is about.

Risk of inconvenience:

Taking part in the research may cause changes to your routine because of the time and place of the interview.

Strategies:

  • We will do the interviews at a time and place that suits you best.
  • You can choose to meet face-to-face or via Teams or Zoom.

Risk of being known to others:

While unlikely, it is possible that you may become known to other people.

Strategies:

  • We will remove your real name and use a different name instead.
  • We will keep the consent forms in a locked room at QUT Kelvin Grove campus.
  • We will save the interview files on computers using a password, and only the research team will have access.

Parents

The research team has identified the following possible risks in relation to participating in this study:

Risk of discomfort:

You may experience discomfort from memories of the behaviour responses that your child has received or barriers and challenges that their children may have faced at school

Strategies:
  • You can ask for a break or postpone the interview to another time.
  • We will email you the interview questions ahead of the interview, so you will be able to know what you will be asked in the interview.
  • You will be able to access confidential support from the QUT Counselling Support Team.
Risk of inconvenience:

You may be inconvenienced due to the time you spend travelling to the place of the interviews (if you choose a face-to-face meeting) and the time that you spend in the interviews. You will also check to confirm your interview transcript.

Strategies:
  • We will check with you about the suitable time and location of the interview.
  • You will choose your preferred days and times for the interview.
  • You can also choose to do interviews face-to-face or via Zoom or Teams.
Risk of disclosure of your identity:

While unlikely, it is possible that if you are quoted directly, your identity may become known to others.

Strategies:
  • We will make every effort to ensure that the data you provide cannot be traced back to you in reports, publications and other forms of presentation.
  • We will use pseudonyms for your name in all interview transcripts.
  • We will remove or change any potentially identifying information after the interview, including your name and the name of your school.

Teachers and school leaders

Risk of discomfort:

You may experience emotional discomfort or distress from past experiences of responding to a behaviour incident or past behaviour decisions that you made.

Strategies:
  • You can ask for a break or postpone the interview to another time.
  • We will email you the interview guide ahead of the interviews, so you know the questions that we will talk about.
  • You can take a break or stop the interview should you feel discomfort or distress.
  • You will be able to access confidential support from the QUT Counselling Support Team.
Risk of inconvenience:

You may be inconvenienced regarding the time and place of the interview, and the time you take to review your interview transcript.

Strategies:
  • We will check with you about the suitable time and location of the interview.
  • You will choose your preferred days and times for the interview.
  • You can also choose to do interviews face-to-face or via Zoom or Teams.
Risk of disclosure of your identity:

While unlikely, it is possible that if you are quoted directly, your identity may become known to others.

Strategies:
  • We will make every effort to ensure that the data you provide cannot be traced back to you in reports, publications and other forms of presentation.
  • We will use pseudonyms for your name in all interview transcripts.
  • We will remove or change any potentially identifying information after the interview including your name and the name of your school.

Are there any benefits for me in taking part?

It is expected that this research project will not benefit you directly.  However, a potential outcome derived from the analysis of participants’ responses will be deeper understanding of how PBL is used to support high school autistic students.

Will I be compensated for my time?

Students

Students will be given $20 Ultimate Shopping Gift Card for each of the meetings they attend.

Parents/guardians, teachers and school leaders

If you choose to participate in this project, the research team is offering a $60 Ultimate Shopping Gift Card in appreciation for your time to attend the interview.

I am interested - what should I do next?

If you are interested in taking part in this study contact PhD student Joseph Athiende via email joseph.athiende@hdr.qut.edu.au or call 07 3138 3469.

You will be provided with further information to ensure that your decision and consent to participate are fully informed.

QUT Ethics Number: 7438