Research Facilitation Consultation
Research Facilitation and Coordination in Clinical and Educational Settings
Clinical settings (e.g., AAC clinics in hospitals, ABA clinics) and educational settings (e.g., schools) provide clinical and educational services/interventions on a daily basis. As such, they are potential sources of practice-based evidence and fertile ground for projects grounded in implementation science. However, many of these settings do not have dedicated research support.
Ralf Schlosser Consulting offers such support on a consultancy basis, making it affordable to many settings while also reaping some of the benefits associated with studying interventions in real-world settings and disseminating outputs in peer-reviewed sources.
Ralf's approach is collaborative and culturally sensitive in that research topics and questions are informed by practitioners' experiences and sensitive to the needs and constraints of practice settings. As research projects are being developed, he infuses professional development opportunities and mentoring for practitioners as they learn to function as effective co-investigators or lead investigators.
Ralf's Mentoring in Research Facilitation
Ralf's approach to research facilitation goes hand-in-hand with his mentoring of practitioners as they grow in their research journey (no additional fees for mentoring, as it is part and parcel of Ralf's approach to research facilitation). Over the years, Ralf has mentored several clinicians who have subsequently completed PhD programs or remained clinicians but continued to be involved in research (see testimonials).
Here Are Some Testimonials Regarding Research Facilitation
- Autism Language Program, Boston Children's Hospital (Howard Shane)
- Augmentative Communication Program, Boston Children's Hospital (John Costello)
- Fayetteville-Manlius Central School District (Lisa Miori-Dineen)
Here Are Some Testimonials Regarding Mentoring
- Emily Laubscher
- Amanda O'Brien
- Christina Yu
Applied Research Methods Consultation for Projects Run by Organizations and Students
Unlike the services under #1, which are more intense and sustained over time, Ralf can also provide research method feedback for time-limited specific projects. These may be planned by organizations or individuals. This is aimed at enhancing rigor and soundness while ensuring that the research questions can be tackled successfully.
Professional Development and Presentations
Ralf Schlosser Consulting is available to create tailored professional development opportunities and deliver targeted presentations for practitioners, graduate students, and junior tenure-track faculty. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:
- AAC and technology-based interventions in autism and developmental disabilities
- Assistive technology
- Evidence-based practice
- Ask well-built questions
- Search for evidence
- Appraise evidence
- Apply the evidence
- Evaluate the evidence application
- Pseudoscientific interventions
- Systematic reviews
- Single-case experimental designs
Evidence Summaries for Treatments in Autism and DD
Suppose your service is contemplating the adoption of a certain treatment or intervention for a specific client or a group of clients. Ralf Schlosser Consulting can help generate evidence summaries to help guide decision-making. In doing so, Ralf will follow the 6-S pyramid of evidence-based information sources along with his skill set in appraising research. Alternatively, your service may be interested in knowing whether a particular piece of evidence (study, review) can be trusted. We at RSC can appraise a study for you so that you have an independent assessment of its quality and trustworthiness.
Systematic Reviews and Scoping Reviews
Ralf Schlosser Consulting can be hired to produce scoping reviews and systematic reviews (including meta-analyses) from protocol registration to manuscript completion on behalf of a service. Developing systematic reviews and scoping reviews could also be part of a more sustained research facilitation engagement (see #1).
Expert Testimony Related to Pseudo-Scientific Communication Interventions
RSC provides expert testimony on cases involving pseudoscientific interventions of Facilitated Communication, Spelling 2 Communicate, and Rapid Prompting Methods used by autistic individuals and individuals with other developmental disabilities. This includes (a) a review of scientific evidence, (b) a review of documents/records provided regarding an individual case, and (c) independent authorship testing. Ralf has been hired for expert testimony (e.g., Dufferin-Peel Catholic School District of Toronto).
Review of Movie Scripts Involving Individuals With Developmental Disabilities
RSC is available to review movie scripts for the authentic portrayal of communication methods and technologies used by individuals with developmental disabilities. Recently, Ralf reviewed an episode of "Carl the Collector" by PBS Kids, which involves two autistic characters, one of whom is using AAC methods to communicate.
Manuscript Preparation and Guidance Through Peer Review
Drawing from decades in editorial roles, RSC can assist with manuscript preparation, pre-peer-review of manuscripts, drafting/reviewing responses to reviewers, etc., to improve the likelihood of successfully navigating peer review.
