analyze information:

• Present the most current version of research question and state the phenomenon of interest.

Research Question:How does a late diagnosis of Level 1 Autism Spectrum Disorder affect mental health and intimate relationship dynamics in adulthood? The phenomenon of interest in my research is the impact of a late diagnosis of Level 1 Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) on mental health and intimate relationship dynamics in adulthood. This encompasses exploring and understanding the subjective experiences, challenges, and adaptations faced by adults who receive a diagnosis of Level 1 ASD later in life, particularly focusing on how this late diagnosis influences their mental health and the dynamics of their intimate relationships.

• Describe the criteria for inclusion and exclusion.

Inclusion criteria would be age, diagnosis, time since diagnosis, cognitive and communicative abilities, and willingness to participate.

Exclusion criteria: underage individuals, recent diagnosis, non-ASD Level 1 diagnosis, co-occurring severe mental health conditions, lack of capacity to consent, and language barriers.

• Describe in detail the choices for sample size, data saturation, and theoretical saturation. Justify your choices with citations of research studies that use the same strategy and/or of methodological articles that describe the rationale.

Sample size. A sample size of 12-20 participants is often considered adequate for phenomenological studies. This range provides enough diversity to capture a range of experiences while still being manageable for in-depth analysis. Creswell (2013) suggests that phenomenological studies typically work with 5 to 25 participants.

Data saturation. Data saturation in this context would be reached when no new themes or insights are being obtained from additional interviews.

Theoretical saturation. Theoretical saturation should be considered as the point at which the data no longer reveals new insights or themes related to the phenomenon under study. Glaser and Strauss (1967), in their seminal work on grounded theory, introduced the concept of theoretical saturation. They suggest that theoretical saturation occurs when gathering more data seems counterproductive as the same data repeats without adding to the understanding of the topic. This concept is widely accepted in qualitative research methodology.

• Put in the participant's position, and consider the assurances would want to hear to ensure that your privacy is respected and that your identity will not be revealed when the study is published. Include those assurances in your invitation.

Invitation to Participate in Research Study on the Impact of Late-Diagnosed Level 1 Autism Spectrum Disorder

• Strict Confidentiality. Your privacy is of utmost importance to us. All information you share will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality. We will not share any identifiable information with anyone outside of the research team.
• Anonymity in Publication. In any reports or publications that result from this study, we will not use your real name or any information that could be used to identify you. Instead, we will use pseudonyms or general descriptions that preserve your anonymity.

Thank you for considering this invitation. Your participation could contribute significantly to our understanding of the experiences of individuals with late-diagnosed Level 1 ASD.

Sincerely, Ekaterina J. Yarley

References:

Creswell, J. W. (2013). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.

Glaser, B. G., & Strauss, A. L. (1967). The discovery of grounded theory: Strategies for qualitative research. Chicago, IL: Aldine.