Entrepreneurial and Criminal Tendencies Amongst Adults with ADHD
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A study exploring the prevalence of entrepreneurial and criminal tendencies amongst adults with ADHD.
IRAS ID
159471
Contact name
Richard Thorpe
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Leeds
Research summary
This research will explore the entrepreneurial and criminal tendencies of adults with ADHD. Previous research studies suggest these tendencies are more common amongst adults with ADHD. This is due to the symptoms of the disorder potentially assisting entrepreneurial and criminal ventures. However, no definitive research to understand the relationship between the behaviours has been conducted. Therefore this study aims to better understand the role of ADHD in these behaviours; the secondary aim of the research is to better understand how entrepreneurship can be encouraged and how criminal entrepreneurship can be deterred. To achieve this, it is necessary to first establish the prevalence of these tendencies in adults with ADHD and second to explore the correlation between ADHD symptoms and the behavioural tendencies.
The study will achieve this by distributing a questionnaire measuring entrepreneurial and criminal tendencies to individuals with ADHD. Research indicates distributing through ADHD clinics may improve the validity of responses, when compared to random sampling of the general population. This is because variable factors, such as a confirmed ADHD diagnosis, are confirmed by professionals prior to completing the questionnaire.
Therefore, access to ADHD clinics to interview adult ADHD patients will allow for data of greater validity and subsequently of greater generalisability to other ADHD individuals. A primary ethical concern of the research is the patient’s disclosure of potential criminal activities. To avoid any self-incrimination and to encourage the patient to respond, the survey will be an anonymised online survey or an anonymous printed survey returned by the respondent (discussed further below).
REC name
London - Fulham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/1528
Date of REC Opinion
11 Aug 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion