Discover more Scholar Spotlights.

Ben Stancliffe, a Laidlaw Scholar at the University of Leeds, is exploring how tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) such as Dungeons & Dragons can support neurodiverse communities through creativity, connection, and shared storytelling.

Research title

 Adventuring Through Research: Exploring the Role of Tabletop RPGs in Neurodiverse Communities

Please briefly outline what your research is about, and its potential real world impact

This research is an ethnographic pilot project exploring the educational and therapeutic potential of tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs), with a particular focus on Dungeons & Dragons. The project involved entering an established gaming community to observe play, conduct semi-structured interviews, and better understand how these spaces are experienced by neurodivergent players. As a pilot study, its aim was to explore these experiences in depth while identifying key areas for future, larger-scale research.

A central focus of the project was to challenge common neurotypical assumptions about role-playing games and their communities. Rather than viewing TTRPGs as purely recreational, the research examined their impact on wellbeing, social connection, and self-expression in the lives of people who regularly participate in these spaces. Interviews and observations highlighted the importance of creativity, collaboration, and shared storytelling, as well as the sense of belonging fostered through play.

As part of the research, I interviewed individuals involved with Game Therapy UK, providing insight into real-world educational and therapeutic applications. One interviewee described role-play as “helping children find a voice, even if it is behind this mask of a character,” while another noted that “it worked so well that students started attending school when they weren’t before.”

The project also aimed to capture the overall atmosphere of the community. Observations consistently revealed a safe, patient, and welcoming environment, including for children completely new to gaming. These findings suggest that TTRPGs hold significant potential as tools for inclusion and wellbeing, and underline the value of approaching such spaces with openness rather than assumption.

Where did your passion for this research originate? How does your personal story feed into it? 

My passion for this research originated from a personal enjoyment of games, alongside a desire to engage in research that differed from my usual work as a chemistry student. From a young age, I played card games and board games with my family, and from the age of five my father took me to Live Action Role Playing events. I found these to be valuable creative outlets, as well as opportunities to meet great people and spend genuine quality time with my dad. As I got older, I came to appreciate even more the chance these experiences offered to step away from the outside world, an experience I later heard reflected by members of the Dungeons & Dragons community involved in this research.

Although I did not grow up playing Dungeons & Dragons specifically, I was familiar with role-playing spaces and the communities that form around them. When the opportunity to take part in this research arose, it felt like a natural progression from a hobby I had always valued, as well as a chance to challenge myself by exploring a very different style of research from the laboratory-based experiments I was used to.

What is the most memorable moment from your Laidlaw scholarship experience so far? 

The most memorable and important moment of my Laidlaw Scholarship so far has been attending and presenting at the Laidlaw Scholars Annual Conference 2025. The conference was a unique opportunity to meet fellow scholars from across the globe, share stories about our research and our lives, and to properly see the scale of the Laidlaw network.

Presenting my own research at the conference was equally significant. It stretched me beyond my comfort zone and helped me further develop my confidence and communication skills in a professional setting. A particular highlight was having my research poster selected for publication. It has been a huge joy to see the poster published, to highlight the conclusions of this research, and to hopefully provide something that future research can continue to build from.

What is the biggest challenge you came across in your research and leadership journeys so far, and what did you learn from it? 

One of the biggest challenges I faced during this research came from an unexpected disruption early in the project. I had arranged to observe what was meant to be the first of three game sessions, but the person due to lead the game was unable to attend, and I was only informed once I had arrived at the venue. It was disheartening and left me unsure how to proceed.

Rather than leaving, I adapted and set up a casual Q&A session with the players who were present. This became a valuable opportunity to lay the foundations for the research. I was able to explain the aims of the project, answer questions, and help dispel any anxiety about a researcher entering the space. It also helped build early trust within the community.

What first felt like a setback became a real success. It taught me that plans do not always unfold as expected, and that flexibility often leads to better outcomes than sticking rigidly to what was originally intended.

What does it mean for you to be a Laidlaw Scholar? 

To me, being a Laidlaw Scholar means being part of a cohort of future leaders, united by a shared commitment to growth, responsibility, and impact. It means belonging to a compassionate global community made up of people from different backgrounds, disciplines, and cultures, all learning from one another.

The scholarship has been an opportunity I would not otherwise have had, allowing me to take part in research far beyond my usual field of study. It also offers the chance to volunteer abroad in a cause I feel genuinely committed to.

Above all, being a Laidlaw Scholar has meant embracing the responsibility to lead by example. It has given me the space to explore and develop my own leadership style, to challenge myself, and to make the most of every opportunity along the way.

Which particular leaders inspire you the most and why? 

Although my interest in role-playing games began with my dad, my mum has been one of the biggest influences on me. During my father’s stroke and recovery, she was the rock of our family. She is a strong woman of character who is determined, confident, and reliable, and who works hard while always keeping her family in mind. Her encouragement and the example she sets through her dedication to both work and family have had a lasting impact on how I approach responsibility, leadership, and supporting others.

Beyond family, I draw inspiration from leaders in Welsh rugby union, a passion I share with my mum. In particular, Alun Wyn Jones is a sportsman I have followed closely all my life. He is a former British and Irish Lion, the most capped rugby union player in the world, and a long-standing captain for Wales. While these achievements are impressive, what inspires me most is how he leads by example, giving everything himself and driving his team to give 100% effort in return. His optimism, resilience, and human approach to leadership make him both a personal inspiration and an outstanding ambassador for the sport

Briefly describe a scene from the future you are striving to create. 

In the future, I see myself leading a small, close-knit team where strong working relationships are built on trust and mutual respect. I want to know the people I work with on a personal level, and to foster a culture that is encouraging, motivated, and supportive. My aim is to lead in a way that helps others feel confident, valued, and driven in their work.

I want to be someone my team feels comfortable contacting, even outside of work, and someone they can rely on when challenges arise. At the same time, I want to hold family as my own personal priority and to understand and respect the priorities of those in my team.

If you want to learn more about Ben's work, explore his research here and follow him on LinkedIn. Ben is a Laidlaw Undergraduate Leadership and Research Scholar at the @University of Leeds  . Become a Laidlaw Scholar to conduct a research project of your choice, develop your leadership skills, and join a global community of changemakers from world-leading universities.

Find out more about the Laidlaw Scholars Undergraduate Leadership and Research Programme.

 🔦 Discover more Scholar Spotlights: 

⚡️ Eliana Amoh, a Laidlaw Scholar at Cornell University, explores the intersection of education, labour, and migration in and out of Ghana.

⚡️ Patrícia Gonçalves, a Laidlaw Scholar at Oxford University's Saïd Business School, on navigating the crossroads of public and private sectors and championing a sustainable, equitable future.

⚡️ Jing Ma, a Laidlaw Scholar at UCL, explores the influences between the evolution of legal frameworks and civil society in Singapore.