Be Creative! Literature Review on People with Intellectual Disabilities’ Involvement in Media Research Studies

Digital media have wide-ranging potential for people with and without disabilities. The increasing interest in media usage is reflected in numerous studies worldwide. People with intellectual disabilities are excluded from research due to a number of obstacles (e.g. cognitive and linguistic abilities) in this research field. Considering the lack of research about media usage and people with intellectual disabilities, this literature review analyses the following research questions: 1) Are people with intellectual disabilities involved in current research?, 2) What research methods are used to conduct research with people with intellectual disabilities?, and 3) Which topics are researched in current studies? To answer our research questions, we conducted a literature review with 38 studies included in our sample. We found that most studies use questionnaires or interviews to research the media usage of people with intellectual disabilities. In this paper, we discuss implications to involve people with disabilities in research.Digitale Medien haben ein weitreichendes Potenzial für Menschen mit und ohne Behinderungen. Das zunehmende Interesse an der Mediennutzung spiegelt sich in zahlreichen Studien weltweit wider. Menschen mit intellektueller Beeinträchtigung sind aufgrund einer Reihe von Hindernissen (z. B. kognitive und sprachliche Fähigkeiten) von der Forschung in diesem Bereich ausgeschlossen. In Anbetracht des Mangels an Forschung über Mediennutzung und Menschen mit intellektueller Beeinträchtigung werden in diese Literatur Review die folgenden Forschungsfragen untersucht: 1) Sind Menschen mit intellektueller Beeinträchtigung in aktuelle Forschung einbezogen? 2) Welche Forschungsmethoden werden verwendet, um Forschung mit Menschen mit intellektueller Beeinträchtigung durchzuführen? und 3) Welche Themen werden in aktuellen Studien erforscht? Zur Beantwortung der Forschungsfragen haben wurde eine Literatur Review durchgeführt und 38 Studien in die Stichprobe aufgenommen. Es stellte sich heraus, dass die meisten Studien Fragebögen oder Interviews verwenden, um die Mediennutzung von Menschen mit intellektueller Beeinträchtigung zu untersuchen. In diesem Beitrag wird diskutiert, wie Menschen mit Behinderungen in die Forschung einbezogen werden können

The Impact of Games on Wellbeing in Autism

This thesis begins with a systematic literature review exploring the experiences of autistic individuals who engage in multiplayer online gaming. A systematic search of the literature identified 11 papers for inclusion. The papers identified were analysed and synthesised using a meta-ethnographic approach. Four themes emerged from the analysis: 1) Relationships in multiplayer online games are built through a platform of opportunity, 2) Multiplayer online games are a platform to practise and develop communication skills with reduced barriers, 3) Emotional recognition, regulation and expression is facilitated through multiplayer online games, and 4) A sense of belonging and self-esteem contributes to increased wellbeing. The review highlighted that multiplayer online games provide opportunities for players to interact in a way that feels less pressured than the face-to-face world. Additionally, players learn skills that contribute to increased self-esteem and improved wellbeing. It is hoped that findings from this review could be used to help psychologists to think about how they can adapt their work to be more suitable for autistic individuals. The research paper explores the impact of table-top board games on wellbeing and functioning in autistic adults. Ten autistic adults volunteered to participate in semi-structured interviews. Verbatim interview transcripts were analysed following the principles of Grounded Theory. Results identified three main themes: the cycle of board game engagement, impact on aspects of autism, impact on wellbeing and functioning. Content of these themes interacted in a variety of ways, represented in a theoretical model. Limitations for the research, along with areas for future research and clinical implications, have been considered. The critical appraisal section of this work pulls together the two pieces of work and discuss how they are related. The processes of qualitative research have also been discussed, along with personal reflections. Future directions for the work have been identified