Trustworthiness of Online Autism Resources
Abstract
Autistic individuals and caregivers frequently turn to the internet for information about autism. Previous research indicates that approximately 86% of parents of autistic children use the internet to find information about their child’s diagnosis (Mackintosh et al., 2005). However, parents also indicate that they struggle to identify which internet sources are trustworthy and untrustworthy (Kubb & Foran, 2020). The present study conducted a content analysis of 356 autism-related websites obtained from top Google search results to evaluate indicators of trustworthiness, particularly when sources made claims regarding intervention efficacy. For the purposes of this study, trustworthiness was operationalized as: (a) publisher type (e.g., government agency, academic institution), (b) presence of author/reviewer credentials, (c) citation of peer-reviewed research, and (d) recommendation of evidence-based versus non-evidence-based interventions. Sources were primarily published by non-profit organizations (24.72%), hospitals/clinics (22.47%), governmental agencies (17.13%), and news websites (12.64%). Only 22.47% of sources included author/reviewer credentials, and 49.16% of sources included references to peer-reviewed research. Regarding interventions, 16.57% of sources recommended interventions which are not considered to be evidence-based, and sources without author/reviewer credentials recommended more non-evidence-based treatments, t(354) = 2.249, p = .025, Cohen’s d = .286. Overall, these results demonstrate that although stakeholders may utilize online resources to gather information about autism, the transparency and evidence within these sources vary significantly. Although online resources are widely used, many lack clear indicators of credibility or promote interventions without empirical support. By understanding the state of online information about autism, clinicians and healthcare providers will be more readily able to support autistic individuals and caregivers in evaluating online information and identifying sources grounded in evidence.
Start Time
15-4-2026 2:30 PM
End Time
15-4-2026 3:30 PM
Room Number
303
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Presentation Subtype
Grad/Comp Orals
Presentation Category
Social Sciences
Student Type
Graduate
Faculty Mentor
Alyson Chroust
Trustworthiness of Online Autism Resources
303
Autistic individuals and caregivers frequently turn to the internet for information about autism. Previous research indicates that approximately 86% of parents of autistic children use the internet to find information about their child’s diagnosis (Mackintosh et al., 2005). However, parents also indicate that they struggle to identify which internet sources are trustworthy and untrustworthy (Kubb & Foran, 2020). The present study conducted a content analysis of 356 autism-related websites obtained from top Google search results to evaluate indicators of trustworthiness, particularly when sources made claims regarding intervention efficacy. For the purposes of this study, trustworthiness was operationalized as: (a) publisher type (e.g., government agency, academic institution), (b) presence of author/reviewer credentials, (c) citation of peer-reviewed research, and (d) recommendation of evidence-based versus non-evidence-based interventions. Sources were primarily published by non-profit organizations (24.72%), hospitals/clinics (22.47%), governmental agencies (17.13%), and news websites (12.64%). Only 22.47% of sources included author/reviewer credentials, and 49.16% of sources included references to peer-reviewed research. Regarding interventions, 16.57% of sources recommended interventions which are not considered to be evidence-based, and sources without author/reviewer credentials recommended more non-evidence-based treatments, t(354) = 2.249, p = .025, Cohen’s d = .286. Overall, these results demonstrate that although stakeholders may utilize online resources to gather information about autism, the transparency and evidence within these sources vary significantly. Although online resources are widely used, many lack clear indicators of credibility or promote interventions without empirical support. By understanding the state of online information about autism, clinicians and healthcare providers will be more readily able to support autistic individuals and caregivers in evaluating online information and identifying sources grounded in evidence.
