Baron-Cohen (procedure)

Question 1

What was the Autism Spectrum Quotient AQ test?

Answer 1

• A self report questionnare
• With 50 statements
• Aims to measure autistic traits

Question 2

What did the Orginal Eyes Test aim to measure?

Answer 2

• Theory of Mind, Social sensitivity
• Believed to use the cognitive processes associated with the theory of mind as ppts needed to empathise with the person to work out their emotional state

Question 3

What was the issue with the Orginal Eyes Task?

Answer 3

• Many practical issues

Question 4

Name 3 problems with the Orginal Eyes Task

Answer 4

1. **Forced choice **question that had only 2 responses which were always opposite in meaning
2. The test caused the ceiling effect as the small number of examples in the test led many in the controls to score 24/25
3. Ppts may have misundertood the words in the task

Question 5

Name 3 other problems with the Orginal Eyes Task

Answer 5

1. The 25 eye sets potrayed both basic and complex emotions with the former being too easy.
2. The emotions in some of the photos could be solved by checking which direction the person was gazing in
3. There was an imbalance of male and female faces

Question 6

Name 3 ways researchers solved the issues of the Orginal Eyes Test

Answer 6

1. The number of options to respond with was increased to 4 and they were not opposite in meaning
2. 36 eye sets were used in the final analysis
3. A glossary of terms was provided and could be consulted througout

Question 7

Name 3 other ways researchers solved the issues of the Orginal Eyes Test

Answer 7

1. Only eyes expressing complex emotions were used
2. Eye sets in which emotions could be solved were removed
3. Equal number of male and female faces

Question 8

Describe the procedure of the experiment

Answer 8

1. Each test was individually administered in a quiet room at either Cambridge or Exeter University. (no time limit)
2. Each ppt was given a practice test and then presented with 36 eye sets and 4 target words.
3. GROUP 1 Juged teh gender of each photo as a control task
4. Group 1,3,4 completed the AQ test
5. Ppts read through the glossary of terms and were asked to ask questions if needed

Question 9

There were 4 sets of eyes removed from the final analysis why?

Answer 9

-They produced in consistent results
- The controls were selecting the foil words

Question 10

Describe the gender recognition task

Answer 10

• Had to identify the gender of the eyes
• Group 1 were given the gender recognition task (as a control)
• To check that there was no issue with perception
• The controls didn’t do this as a pilot study showed they scored 100% on gender recognition

Question 11

Describe the AQ measure

Answer 11

Group 1,2,4 were asked to complete the test at home and returned it by post

Question 12

Why did Group 1 perfom the gender recognition task?

Answer 12

to check that there was no issue with perception

Question 13

Why didn’t the control groups complete the gender recognition task?

Answer 13

a pilot study showed they (adults) scored 100% on gender recognition

Question 14

How were the target words selected?

Answer 14

• The test was piloted on 8 judges (4 males and 4 females).
• At least 5 judges had to agree on the target word
• No more than 2 judges could select any single foil word.
• If this didn’t happen, the target word or foil would be repiloted until the criteria were met for each.