Teaching severely autistic children to recognise emotions: finding a methodology

This paper presents part of our wider research project concerning the design, development and evaluation of computer systems for children with autism. Research currently being carried out concerns how children with autism recognise human facial expressions of emotion and how the use of computerbased animated characters might help them in this recognition. The context for the research is a primary school unit of children with severe autism and moderate to severe learning difficulties. We present results of a preliminary study designed to establish a baseline for the abilities of each child, and describe the methodology considerations that arose during and after the study. The merit of participant observers is discussed, and links to action research are pointed out.