PSY FPX 5201 Assessment 4

Population and Sampling

This study investigates differences in the care given to children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who live in rural and non-rural areas. In particular, it assesses the use of services among parents of ASD children in varying geographic locations. The study considers a group of children diagnosed with ASD who live in rural communities of a southern state. Since the target population of interest is children with ASD, their location geographically is of importance in the research.

PSY FPX 5201 Assessment 4: Sampling Method

Participants were selected through random sampling to ensure that each caregiver had an equal opportunity to be selected to participate in the study. The participants were asked to fill out an online survey on the accessibility and quality of the services provided to them. The research enrolled 415 caregivers from a southeastern state, all of whom had a child with an ASD diagnosis. The enrollment of caregivers with children with an ASD diagnosis is a defining feature of the sample, essential to understanding the differences in services between rural and non-rural settings.