Cognitive Approach 2 - Baron-Cohen et al.

Question 1

When was the study?

Answer 1

2001

Question 2

What two disorders were combined into ASD in 2013?

Answer 2

Asperger’s Syndrome (AS) and High Functioning Autism (HFA).

Question 3

What is the Sally-Anne test?

Answer 3

A way to test for Theory of Mind in children.

Question 4

What does AQ stand for?

Answer 4

Autism Quotient.

Question 5

Who was exempted from taking the AQ test?

Answer 5

Participants who were already diagnosed with AS/HFA.

Question 6

What is the aim?

Answer 6

To test whether a group of adults with AS and HFA would be impaired on the revised version of the ‘Reading The Mind in the Eyes’ task.

Question 7

How many hypotheses were there?

Answer 7

5

Question 8

How many hypotheses were proven correct?

Answer 8

5

Question 9

What were the 5 hypotheses?

Answer 9

1 - ASD group will score lower on Eyes task than control group.
2 - ASD group will score higher on the AQ.
3 - Females in normal groups (2,3) will score higher on Eyes task than normal males.
4 - Males in normal group (3) would score higher on AQ than normal females.
5 - AQ scores and Eyes scores would be negatively correlated.

Question 10

What does Baron-Cohen suggest that people with autism have?

Answer 10

An underdeveloped theory of mind.

Question 11

What is ‘Theory of Mind’?

Answer 11

A cognitive ability that enables us to realize that others have different feelings, beliefs, knowledge, and desires from us.

Question 12

What is empathy?

Answer 12

The ability to understand the world as another, separate from ourselves.

Question 13

When did Baron-Cohen conduct his first ASD and Theory of Mind experiment?

Answer 13

1997

Question 14

What were three flaws of the 1997 study?

Answer 14

Only 2 options - deterministic.
The options for emotions were opposites.
There was a ceiling effect in the normal group.

Question 15

What are four emotions found in the 2001 glossary?

Answer 15

Accusing, defiant, hopeful, regretful.

Question 16

What was the experiment type?

Answer 16

Lab experiment. Also, Natural/Quasi Experiment.

Question 17

What was the experiment design?

Answer 17

Independent Measures Design and Matched Participants Design.

Question 18

How were the photographs chosen for the study?

Answer 18

Using a pilot study.

Question 19

Why was the study a natural experiment?

Answer 19

Because ASD is naturally occurring and cannot be manipulated by the experimenters.

Question 20

How many groups were there?

Answer 20

4

Question 21

Describe group 1.

Answer 21

AS/HFA group. 15 males. Average age: 29.7 Average IQ: 115

Question 22

Describe group 2.

Answer 22

Adult comparison group. 122 people. Average age: 46.5

Question 23

Describe group 3.

Answer 23

Student comparison group. 103 people. Average age: 20.8

Question 24

Describe group 4.

Answer 24

IQ matched group. 14 people. Average age: 28. Average IQ: 116

Question 25

What method of sampling was used for group 1 and how?

Answer 25

Volunteer sampling. Ads in Autistic Society Magazine and support groups.

Question 26

Where was the sample in group 2 from?

Answer 26

Adult community and education classes in Exeter, or public library users in Cambridge.

Question 27

Where was group 3 from and why is that problematic?

Answer 27

Cambridge University. Not representative of the general population since Cambridge is highly selective.

Question 28

How was group 4 sampled?

Answer 28

Random selection.

Question 29

What was the IV?

Answer 29

Type of participant in each condition.

Question 30

What were the two different DVs measured?

Answer 30

1 - Score on Eyes test 2 - Score on AQ (not everyone)

Question 31

How many pairs of eyes were they shown?

Answer 31

36

Question 32

How many of the eyes pairs were male and female?

Answer 32

18/18

Question 33

How many emotions were given for each eye pair?

Answer 33

4. 1 target and 3 foils.

Question 34

How were the target and foil words decided for each pair of eyes?

Answer 34

A majority of judges (5) had to agree on the correct words and no more than 2 could pick the foil words.

Question 35

How many judges were used?

Answer 35

8

Question 36

How many groups took the revised eyes test?

Answer 36

4

Question 37

What additional thing did group 1 have to identify in the photos?

Answer 37

The gender

Question 38

Why did groups 2,3, and 4 not have to do gender recognition?

Answer 38

Pilot studies showed 'normal' adults achieving 100% accuracy on gender recognition.

Question 39

Which groups completed the AQ test?

Answer 39

1, 3, and 4

Question 40

How often could participants use the glossary?

Answer 40

Whenever they desired.

Question 41

How long were participants allowed to identify the emotion?

Answer 41

As long as they liked.

Question 42

Was there informed consent?

Answer 42

Yes

Question 43

Why was full disclosure before the experiment necessary?

Answer 43

Due to the nature of autism, they like to know what they are doing.

Question 44

Was confidentiality ensured?

Answer 44

Yes. Everything was anonymous.

Question 45

What were the results for the group 1 gender recognition?

Answer 45

All participants scored 33 or above out of 36.

Question 46

How often did participants check the glossary?

Answer 46

No participant in any condition checked for more than 2 words.

Question 47

Were there sex differences between males and females?

Answer 47

In the normal groups (2 and 3), there were, but these were not significant.

Question 48

How did group 1 compare in identifying target words compared to the other groups?

Answer 48

They identified significantly fewer correct target words than the other groups

Question 49

How did the AQ test results compare across groups 1, 3, and 4?

Answer 49

Group 1 scored significantly higher.

Question 50

In the student comparison group (3), were there sex differences in the AQ scores?

Answer 50

Yes, there was a significant difference between males and female students on the AQ test.

Question 51

What was the average score for group 1 on the Eyes test?

Answer 51

21.9

Question 52

What was the average score for group 2 on the Eyes test?

Answer 52

26.2

Question 53

What was the average score for group 3 on the Eyes test?

Answer 53

28

Question 54

What was the average score for group 4 on the Eyes test?

Answer 54

30.9

Question 55

What was the average score for group 1 on the AQ test?

Answer 55

34.4

Question 56

What was the average score for group 3 on the AQ test?

Answer 56

18.3

Question 57

What was the average score for group 4 on the AQ test?

Answer 57

18.9

Question 58

What is the correlation coefficient between AQ test scores and Eyes test scores?

Answer 58

-0.53

Question 59

Was there a correlation between the revised Eyes test and IQ?

Answer 59

No

Question 60

What does Baron-Cohen believe that autism is?

Answer 60

An excess of male traits.

Question 61

What are five strengths of the study?

Answer 61

High standardisation Highly controlled High internal validity High reliability Improved on previous version of experiment

Question 62

What are four weaknesses of the study?

Answer 62

Random allocation impossible Low ecological validity (lacks mundane realism) Unnatural conditions of experiment Small sample size for group 1

Question 63

What is the GRAVE analysis?

Answer 63

MHHMH

Question 64

What are two conclusions?

Answer 64

Participants with ASD have a deficit in cognitive processes that allow them to identify emotions in other people. Evidence of sex differences in comparison groups (males lower on Eyes test and higher on AQ test) - needs further research.