5. Baron-Cohen et al. (2001) - Cognitive Approach - done

Question 1

Aim or Baron- Cohen (3)

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

Meaning of theory of mind

Answer 2

ability to understand the view of another

Question 3

Hypothesis of Baron Cohen (5)

Answer 3

1. Participants with autism will score significantly lower in reading the eyes in the mind test 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 4

Sample in Baron Cohen (4)

Answer 4

Group 1 : Volunteer sample UK national autistic society magazine - 15 male adults
Group 2: control group (adults) 122 adults from a Cambridge library users mix of femals and males and occupations
Group 3: control group (students) 103 mix of female and male from uni of cambridge
Group 4: control group (IQ matched) 116 IQ 14 randomlly chosen

Question 5

Research method/design (2) baron cohen

Answer 5

Natural experiment?
independent groups design

Question 6

IV of Baron Cohen

Answer 6

Whether they had autism, and gender

Question 7

DV of Baron Cohen

Answer 7

Reading the eyes in the mind test scores, AQ scores, and gender

Question 8

Procedure of Baron Cohen (4)

Answer 8

Reading the eyes in the mind test - matched target words with the photos
8 judges and 5 of them had to agree on the target words,

groups 1 3 4 did the AQ
they went into a quiet room and did the REMT test with no time limit with glossary

Question 9

Results of Baron Cohen (5)

Answer 9

scores ranged from 17~24
Group 2 did significantly worse than other groups REMT test
Group 2 got higher scores in the AQ
females got higher in the REMT test
negative correlation between AQ and REMT

Question 10

Conclusion of Baron Cohen (3)

Answer 10

1. Autism are significantly impaired in reading emotions of others
2. Autism indiiduals score higher in AQ than general people
3. Females can read emotions better than men

Question 11

Strengths of Baron Cohen (4)

Answer 11

+Lab experiment - controlled variables
+ everyone did the same test - standardized
–> easily replicable
+ they had made improvements on the test (eg: only 2 options so they made 4 options, imbalance of male and female faces)
+ ethics - consent

Question 12

Weakness of Baron Cohen (2)

Answer 12

• Lacks ecological validity - that is not how we look at people (only eyes?)
• Group 1 is small (autism group) hard to generalise