Current and ongoing projects include:
- Videogame Conversations Project – this project is examining the conversation patterns of typically developing friends
while playing videogames together in-person. Answering this research question will inform
interventions that prepare individuals with social and language impairments to interact
with their peers. Answering this question will also provide information on the types
of conversations that are common when playing different types of games, and if conversation
styles vary based on the type of videogame being played (e.g., competitive vs cooperative).
- Videogame Dyad Project – this project is examining how individuals with ASD allocate their visual attention
while playing videogames with a partner in-person. Answering this question will help
to understand the types of visual and social demands an individual with ASD experiences while
engaging in a social activity with a peer vs when playing videogames alone. This will
inform future interventions for both individuals with ASD as well as their peers.
- Autism and Romantic Relationships Project – this project is examining the romantic relationships of adolescents and young adults
with ASD. This project was designed to better understand how individuals with ASD
who are in relationships established and maintained these relationships and how their
relationships function day-to-day.
- Girls Friendship Project –this project is examining the friendships of school-age girls with ASD. Answering
this research question will help to understand the experiences of girls with ASD relative
to making and maintaining friendships. The data from this project will allow the research
team to begin to understand the similarities and differences in the experiences of
girls and boys with ASD with respect to their friendships.
Want to get involved? There are plenty of ways to participate in ongoing and future research efforts in the Social Development and Friendship laboratory.
If you are a family of an individual with ASD, or an individual with ASD yourself,
who wants to learn more about the current projects and eligibility criteria, please
contact Dr. Finke at efinke1@uthsc.edu.
If you are a teacher, school or clinical professional, parent, or future, current,
or former ASP student who would like to help with recruitment or distribute materials
about the ongoing projects in this lab, please contact Dr. Finke at efinke1@uthsc.edu.
The Social Development and Friendship Laboratory is housed at the UT Conference Center.
Tobii Pro X3-120 eye-tracking technology is located in this lab. Tobii Pro Lab as
well as TobiiStudio software applications are available for analysis of eye-tracking
data using a PC computer platform. The Social Development and Friendship research
lab also contains the newest generation of videogaming equipment (XboxOne and PS4)
and a variety of games for both platforms. The Social Development and Friendship lab
houses both IBM-compatible and Apple-compatible computers and related software. Four
computer workstations, and two lab-based laptops are available for students conducting
research projects in the Social Development and Friendship lab. All technology is
connected to the university's mainframe computers via an Ethernet network.