Studied by 69 people
Cognitive Approach
studies the theory of mind - ability to understand mental/emotional states of others and understand that they're different from your own
Psychology
studies autism and theory of mind, and if there is a valid test to identify autism
Sally Anne test
(Background)
tests ability of young children to understand that not all people are good
Baren - Cohen's 1997 eye test
(Background)
used to identify adults with AS/HFA
AQ test
(Background)
50 questions and a 4-point scale, score of 32 or higher indicates significant level of autistic traits
1997 test issue #1
(Background)
two word choices, giving 50% chance of guessing correctly (fixed by four word choices)
1997 test issue #2
(Background)
foil and semantic words were exact opposites of each other (fixed by foils not being opposite of semantic)
1997 test issue #3
(Background)
more female faces than male faces (fixed by making them equal)
1997 test issue #4
(Background)
parents of children with AS/HFA scored the same level as the kids themselves (fixed by making the test more difficult by adding word choices and items)
1997 test issue #5
(Background)
ceiling effect - too many people scored too high on the test (fixed by making the test more difficult by adding word choices and items)
1997 test issue #6
(Background)
gazing - some times were guessed from gaze (fixed by removing cards where the person was gazing)
1997 test issue #7
(Background)
comprehension - not understanding words (fixed by giving participants a glossary)
Aim #1
to test whether the revised eye test will fix the problems of the 1997 test and if it can identify AS/HFA
Aim #2
to see if females will score better on the eyes test than males
Aim #3
to see if a negative correlation exists between the AQ test and eyes test
Hypothesis #1
The AS/HFA group will score lower on the eyes test
Hypothesis #2
The AS/HFA group will score higher on the AQ test
Hypothesis #3
Females will score higher on the eyes test than males
Hypothesis #4
Males will score higher than females on the AQ test
Hypothesis #5
Scores on the eyes test and the AQ test will be negatively/inversely correlated
IV
groups of people: AS/HFA (experimental), normal females, normal males, neuronormal (control)
DV
scores on the AQ test and eyes test
Method
Quasi study - laboratory experiment but IV is naturally occurring so independent measures must be used
Independent measures
Scores will give data on the DV
Matched pairs were used to eliminate intelligence as a participant variable
Apparatus
eye test and AQ test
Group 1
(Participants)
15 adult males with AS/HFA volunteer sampled with advertising through magazine and support groups
Group 2
(Participants)
122 normal adults opportunity sampled from educational classes and public libraries around Cambridge and Exeter
Group 3
(Participants)
53 male, 50 female randomly sampled from Cambridge University; assumed to be highly intelligent, with 71 majoring in science
Group 4
(Participants)
14 adults with matched IQs to Group, randomly selected from general population
Control #1
(Picture)
All pictures will be in black and white and only of the eye region of the face, taken from magazines
Control #2
(Picture)
Each card will have 4 words placed in the corners of the card, with each word based on how the person is thinking/feeling as it relates to their eye region
Control #3
(Validity)
Words on the card will be selected by two of the authors to eliminate bias
Control #4
(Validity)
Eight judges will review all 40 cards, 5 out of the 8 judges must agree to use the word choices in order for them to stay on the card
Control #5
(Validity)
No more than 2 out of 8 judges could pick the same wrong word on the card for the card to stay
Control #6
(Validity)
50% or more of the people from Groups 2 and 3 had to select the correct word of a card or it would be thrown out
Step 1 (procedure)
All participants in all groups will complete the revised eye test in a quiet room by themselves. Group 1 will be asked to identify the gender of the person on each card
Step 2 (procedure)
Groups 1, 3 and 4 will take the AQ test, all participants are asked to go through the glossary and they will have access to it throughout the test
Finding #1
The mean scores for the eyes test were 21.9 (Group 1), 26.2 (Group 2), 28 (Group 3), and 30.9 (Group 4)
Finding #2
The mean scores of the AQ test were 34.4 (Group 1), 18.3 (Group 3) and 18.9 (Group 4)
Finding #3
Females in both Groups 2 and 3 scored insignificantly higher on the eyes test
Finding #4
Males in Group 3 scored insignificantly higher on the AQ test
Finding #5
There was a -0.53 correlation between the eyes and AQ tests
Finding #6
The lowest score on the eyes test was 17, the highest was 35, and the mode was 25
Conclusion #1
All aims and hypotheses were supported
Conclusion #2
Since the data fits into a normal curve, the modifications of the 2001 test improved upon the 1997 test
Conclusion #3
The revised test was able to replicate the findings of the 1997 test and was able to identify significant impairment in the AS/HFA group
Conclusion #4
This test is now validated in identifying adults with AS/HFA
Ethics
Informed consent was obtained without use of deception. Confidentiality was maintained. Baron-Cohen doesn’t state that protection from harm was violated, it can be argued that participants may have been stressed by their scores
Strength #1
The procedure is standardized, allowing for easy replication
Strength #2
The experiment being in a laboratory makes it highly controlled
Strength #3
The use of matched pairs controls for intelligence as a participant variable
Strength #4
The use of the AQ test is a reliable and valid measure against the eyes test
Strength #5
The glossary allowed minimization of blind guessing and allowed participants to comprehend word choices
Strength #6
The numerous validity checks on the eyes test gave it high construct validity
Weakness #1
The pictures are in black and white, non-diverse, static, and only of the eye region, making the task lack mundane realism
Weakness #2
The experiment was in a laboratory, lowering ecological validity
Weakness #3
Only a simple majority was needed to approve word choices for the eyes test
Weakness #4
The correlation between the tests does not prove causation
Weakness #5
Despite the use of the glossary, participants might not have understood words
Weakness #6
There is a still a 25% of participants guessing correctly
Application
(issues & debates)
to creating therapies for improving social communication and social emotional skills
to schools for providing extra support in understanding emotions and reading faces
Note 
Flashcard (80)