Baron-Cohen et al's cognitive core study on the eyes tests

Question 1

Assumptions of the cognitive approach and how they relate to this core study

Answer 1

The cognitive approach would explain autism along the lines of a cognitive deficit. For autism, a popular cognitive explanation is lack of theory of mind as suggested by Baron-Cohen et al. This means that an autistic person is not able to infer other peoples mental states such as beliefs and emotions. An autistic child might think that someone else is also thinking and feeling in the same way they do, and knows the same things.

Question 2

The psychology that is being investigated

Answer 2

theory of mind: the ability to recognize mental states, desires, and beliefs of ourselves and others. It is believed that many people on the autism spectrum do not have theory of mind.
Social sensitivity: our ability to perceive and identify social cues in society

Question 3

Explain the original study

Answer 3

• had 25 eye pairs
• Chose mental state between 2 options
• more females faces then male
• Both basic and complex mental states

Question 4

The Background

Answer 4

• “Reading the Mind in the Eyes” test was developed to assess the theory of mind. This appeared to discriminate between adults with the Asperger syndrome (AS) or high-functioning autistic (HFA) adults from control adults.
• The two former groups scored significantly worse. However, the researchers were not happy with elements of the original study and wanted to “upgrade” their measures to make it better

Question 5

The Aims

Answer 5

• To see if females had a higher score than males on the eye test
• To test a group of adults with AS or HFA on the revised eyes test

Question 6

Describe Participants in Group 1

Answer 6

• 15 males with AS or HFA
• recruited through UK Nat. Autistic socitey magazine or support group
• All formaly diagnosed

Question 7

Describe Participants in Group 2

Answer 7

• broad range
• 122 normal adults
• recrutied trhough adult community and education classes
• From public library in Cambridge

Question 8

Describe Participants in Group 3

Answer 8

• Assumed to have high IQ
• 103 normal adults
• 53 male
• 50 female
• all undergrads from Cambridge univeristy

Question 9

Describe Participants in Group 4

Answer 9

• Random selection
• 14 adults
• match with IQ of group 1

Question 10

How were the foils and target words chosen?

Answer 10

• It was piloted on 8 judges (4 males and 4 females).
• At least 5 judges had to agree on the target word and no more than 2 judges could select any single foil word.
• If this did happen, the target word and or foil would be repiloted until the criteria were met for each.

Question 11

Outline the revised eye test

Answer 11

• 36 pairs of eyes
• had a glossary
• only complex states
• males = females

Question 12

The procedures

Answer 12

• The Revised Eyes Test was administered individually in a controlled setting.
• Participants were presented with photographs showing the eye region of different actors and actresses and were asked to select from multiple-choice options the word that best described what the person in the photograph was thinking or feeling.
• A glossary of mental state terms was provided, and participants could consult it if they were unsure of a word’s meaning.

Question 13

The research method used

aka experimental method

Answer 13

experimental

Question 14

Independent variables used

Answer 14

• 4 groups of participants

Question 15

Dependent variables used

Answer 15

• scores on the eyes test and the AQ

Question 16

The sampling method used

Answer 16

Opportunity and Volunteer sampling

Question 17

The experimental design used

Answer 17

Idependent Groups

Question 18

The controls used

Answer 18

Each participant completed it individually in a quiet room
Ps told to use glossary with words they were unsure of

Question 19

Types of questions asked

Answer 19

Particpants in group one were asked to judge the gender of the person in the image

Question 20

Groups 1, 3, and 4 completed…

Answer 20

a questionair to measure their AQ

AQ = autism quotient

Question 21

Data collection method used

Answer 21

Answers correct of the 36 question revised eyes test

Question 22

Ethical issues

Answer 22

• Protection particapants in group 1 scored poorly on eyes test and could have caused them stres.
• If did not understand emotions test might have been too diffuclt casuign distress

Question 23

Outline one problem that could arise if children were used as participants in the study by Baron-Cohen et al. (eyes test).

Answer 23

There are ethical issues with using children (1 mark: identification). This could be protection from psychological harm (1 mark: elaboration).In this study, children may have found the procedure stressful as it could have felt like a test or examination (1 mark: link).

1 mark for identification of the problem.
1 mark for elaboration of the problem (can be linked to study or not)
1 mark for linking it to Baron-Cohen et al.

Question 24

Results

Quantitative/qualitative data & how it is represented and interpeted

Answer 24

• In general females scored better then males
• The AS/HFA group performed significantly worse than the other the groups in the eyes test. but higher in the AQ

Question 25

Conclusion drawn

Answer 25

revised version of the eyes test could still discriminate between AS/HFA adults and controls from different sections of society as it replicated previous finding. The new test appeared to overcome the initial problems.

Question 26

Strengths
Methodological issues:

Reserach method, reliabilty,validty,generalibily,& control of variables

Answer 26

• High Validity - high levels of control all patients tested on the same scale and had a glossry
• High Reliability – standardized procedures and controls. new revised eyes rest fond reliable resultes

Question 27

Weakness
Methodological Issues

Reserach method, reliabilty,validty,generalibily,& control of variables

Answer 27

• Low ecological validity the stimuli are static, whereas the real world never is
• validity Whether the revised test is actually measuring the theory of mind traits or just the ability to complete the eyes test.

completing an eye test in a lab is not an everyday task so it lacks mundane relasim.

Question 28

Everyday Life

The issues of application of psychology and how it realtes to the study

Answer 28

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.

Question 29

Individual and Situational explanations debate

how it relates to the study

Answer 29

The AS/HFA group performed significantly worse on the RET than the ‘normal’ group. This suggests that the ability to identify mental states is an individual skill that is developed. The environment had been standardised (supports individual explanation).