Baren-Cohen

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

1. To test if the revised version of the ‘Reading the Mind in the Eyes’ test would be successful at differentiating participants with AS or HFA (High Functioning Autism) from the general population.
2. To test if there is a negative correlation in a sample of normal adults and between the RET and the AQ.
3. To test any sex differences on the RET when normal adults take the test.

Question 2

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Answer 2

A neurodevelopmental disorder impairing a child’s ability to communicate and interact. Symptoms: repetitive behaviour, little or no eye contact and can’t recognise facial expressions. High Functioning Autism is HFA.

Question 3

Aspergers syndrome

Answer 3

Autism spectrum disorder that affects language and communication skills. Symptoms: restricted & repetitive behaviours and trouble identifying facial expressions.

Question 4

Autism spectrum quotient test

Answer 4

self-report questionnaire with scores ranging from 0 to 50. A high score suggests that the person has more autistic traits.

Question 5

Hypothesis

Answer 5

1. Participants with autism will score significantly lower in the RET than the control group.
2. Participants with autism will score significantly higher on the AQ test.
3. Females in the ‘normal’ group (grp 2 & 3) will score higher on the RET than males in those groups.
4. Males in the ‘normal’ group will score higher on the AQ measure than females.
5. Scores on the AQ and RET will be negatively correlated.

Question 6

Sample

Answer 6

Group 1- 15 male with AS/HFA, self-selecting through magazine advert, average IQ is 115
Group 2- control group: 122 adults, 55 men and 67 women, library users in Cambridge
Group 3- control group of students: 103 undergraduates from Cambridge, 53 men and 50 women
Group 4- IQ-matched controls: 14 randomly selected, IQ matched group, average IQ is 116

Question 7

Research Method, Design

Answer 7

Quasi-experiment, independent groups design

Question 8

Independent variable

Answer 8

Whether they had AS/HFA or were normal, and gender.

Question 9

Dependent variable

Answer 9

RET score, AQ score, and gender identification for group 1.

Question 10

Procedure A: Developing RET

Answer 10

Baren-Cohen and Wheelwright made target words and foils for 36 photos, 8 judges (4 male and 4 female), 5 judges needed to agree on target word, 2 judges could select any single foil word, groups 2 and 3 achieved 100% on judging gender in pilot tests

Question 11

Procedure B: Implementing the tests

Answer 11

Each test was individually administered in a quiet room at either Cambridge or Exeter. There was no time limit. Each participant was given a practice test and then presented with 36 sets of eyes and 4 possible target words. Group 1 judged the gender of each photo as a control task. Participants in groups 1, 3 & 4 completed the AQ test. They read through the glossary of terms and were asked to ask questions as needed; they could use the glossary during the test.

Question 12

Results

Answer 12

• Scores ranged from 17 - 35, with a mode of 24.
• Adults with AS/HFA performed significantly worse than other groups for the RET (H1 supported).
• On the AQ test, adults with AS/HFA performed significantly higher than the control groups (H2 supported).
• Females scored higher on the RET (H3 supported).
• There was a significant negative correlation (-0.53) between scores on AQ and RET (H5 supported).

Question 13

Conclusions

Answer 13

• Current study replicated findings that AS/HFA adults are significantly impaired in identifying the emotions of others.
• Current study replicated findings that AS/HFA adults score significantly higher on the AQ test than the general population.
• There were gender differences found on the RET as females performed better than men. However, it would have been more significant with a greater sample.
  The Revised Eye Test was a more sensitive measure of adult social intelligence.

Question 14

Strengths

Answer 14

1. High internal validity

Question 15

Weakness

Answer 15

1. Low ecological validity
2. Low generalisability

Question 16

Application to everyday life

Answer 16

Programmes could be conducted to help people with AS/HFA in developing their skills of interpreting emotions. The eyes test could be improved to help diagnose individuals who may have underlying autistic disorders.