Baren Cohen et al Flashcards

1
Q

Background

A

To perform the eyes test a second time while fixing the weaknesses that arose from the old time- they created a new revised eyes test.

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2
Q

Autism spectrum disorder

A

Difficulty in social, communicative and imaginative areas.

Also repetitive and physical behaviours

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3
Q

Autism Spectrum Quotient Test

A

a self- report questionnaire with scores ranging from 0 to 50. A high score means the person has more autistic traits

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4
Q

Social cognition

A

the ability to understand the interrelations in the environment

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5
Q

Characteristics of autism in children (3)

A
  • difficulty with social interaction
  • difficulty with verbal and non-verbal communication
  • lack of imaginative play
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6
Q

Random characteristics of autism (4)

A
  • little/ no eye contact
  • lack theory of mind
  • problems identifying facial expressions
  • lack of social skills
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7
Q

What is a psychometric test?

A

A pencil and paper test that measures psychological aspects that are individual such as IQ

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8
Q

First stage of the theory of mind

A

assigning an appropriate mental state to another

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9
Q

Second stage of the theory of mind

A

to infer the content of the mental state

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10
Q

IV

A

the revised eyes test

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11
Q

What is the revised eyes test?

A

test with photos presented to the participants showing various emotions to calculate the tester’s autistic traits

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12
Q

IV operationalised by

A

specific details of the test

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13
Q

DV

A

the participants’ scores on the revised eyes test

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14
Q

Aim 1( test a group with autism…)

A

To test a group of adults with autism on the RET

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15
Q

Aim 2 (relationship…)

A

To test if there’s an inverse relationship between RET and the autism spectrum quotient

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16
Q

Aim 3 (gender)

A

To test if females scored better on the RET than males

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17
Q

Where did the study take place

A

Exter and Cambridge

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18
Q

How was ‘reading the mind in the eyes’ proved to be testable

A

by testing whether the general population can judge mental state from minimal cues such as expressions around the eyes.

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19
Q

Why was the first eyes test not very valid

A

because it did not differentiate between people who had autism and people who did not

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20
Q

Problem with eyes test 1 (forced choice)

A

only had two response options meaning there were a narrow range of correct responses.

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21
Q

How was forced choice problem solved?

A

Forced choice remained but there were four options instead of two

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22
Q

Problem with eyes test 2 (basic and complex)

A

The basic options were too easy to identify

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23
Q

How was basic and complex options solved

A

only the complex options were used

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24
Q

Problem with eyes test 3 (sem..)

A

The two options are semantic opposites which made chosing between them too easy

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25
Q

How to solve semantic opposites probelms

A

Semantic opposites were removed and foil choices were included which were more similar to the answers.

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26
Q

Problem with eyes test 4 (unders..)

A

There were comprehension problems with the options

27
Q

How to solve understanding problems

A

A glossary was given

28
Q

What are ceiling effects

A

too many scores at the top end of the mark range making it difficult to differentiate between people who have autism and people who don’t

29
Q

How was the ceiling effects problem solved?

A

They added more options from 25 to 36

30
Q

Which stages do the RET test?

A

The first stage only

31
Q

Controls (3)

A
  • all subjects given the same RET
  • tested individually in a quiet room
  • normal adults had to do the gender recognition test
32
Q

Group 1 details (3)

A
  • 15 males
  • diagnosed with APA and WHO with autism
  • scored normal on WAIS-R intelligence test
33
Q

Group 2 details (3)

A
  • 122 normal adults
  • Drawn from Exeter and Cambridge
  • Broad range of occupations
34
Q

Group 3 details (3)

A
  • 103, almost equal gender, adults
  • studying for undergrad in Cambridge
  • Got 3 As in A levels
35
Q

Group 4 details (3)

A
  • 14 adults
  • randomly selected
  • IQ matched with group 1
36
Q

Group 1 sample recruited how (4)

A
  • via ads
  • via the National autistic society magazine
  • all diagnosed in special centres
  • all given the WAIS-R
37
Q

Group 1 sample

A

volunteer sample

38
Q

Group 2 sample

A

Opportunity sample

39
Q

Group 3 sample

A

Opportunity

40
Q

Group 4 sample

A

Random, IQ matched
matched pairs design

41
Q

Experimental design

A

Independant for all except group 4- matched

42
Q

Why were normal adults not tested on gender recognition?

A

Because the normal adults were found to be on the ceiling in the pilot test so it was not repeated to save time

43
Q

Why was group 1 tested on gender recognition?

A

Given anticipated impairments on mental state recognition

44
Q

Why was the test modified

A

To render the test as a more sensitive test for adult social intelligence

45
Q

Describe the procedure used to select target words and foils (4)

A
  • piloted on eight judges
  • at least five from the eight had to agree that the target word was the most suitable
  • no more than two judges had to pick a single foil
  • items that failed had new target words generated then was repiloted to the judges
46
Q

Prediction 1 and result (group 1 score and RET)

A

Group 1 will score lower on the RET

Mean eyes test score was significantly lower than all the other groups, was the lowest at 2.19

47
Q

Prediction 2 and result (group 1 score and AQ)

A

Group 1 will score higher in the AQ

Group 1 scored significantly higher, with a mean of 34.4, than groups 3 and 4.

48
Q

Prediction 3 and result (gender and RET)

A

Females in the normal groups (2 and 3) would score higher than males on the RET

When sex differences were examined, females scored significantly higher

49
Q

Prediction 4 and result (gender and AQ)

A

Males in the normal group (3) would score higher than females in the AQ

When sex differences were examined on the AQ, males (19.5) scored higher than females (16.6)

50
Q

Conclusions (2)

A
  • the RET overcame the problems of the original version making it a valid test of social intelligence in adults
  • People with autism have difficulties with Theory of Mind as they cannot see the perspectives of other people
51
Q

Prediction 5 and result (AQ and RET)

A

Scores on the AQ and RET would be inversely correlated

there was a significant inverse correlation between the AQ and RET.

52
Q

How was the study useful

A

the study helped to develop a tool to identify whether a person has autism

53
Q

Valid? Yes

A

Modifications on the eyes test ensured that the results were valid with significant differences between the groups.

Plus the same test was used in all groups so the results can be compared on the same scale

54
Q

Explain the problem of having a narrow range of scores

A

This caused ceiling effects which were bad because it’s difficult to detect individual differences

55
Q

Why were basic options removed

A

Because they can be recognised purely as emotions without the need to attribute it to a person. Furthermore, they are recognised even by very young normally developing children

56
Q

What does removing basic options do

A

Make it easier to obtain a greater range of performance in a random sample of adults

57
Q

Why was gaze direction removed

A

Because it would be too easy a clue for someone with subtle mind-reading difficulty

58
Q

How was the study applicable

A

The AS/HFA group scored significantly lower on the Eyes test indicating that they lack a Theory of Mind,

educators can help out these students by giving them extra support (e.g. Through extra classes) to help them improve their Theory of Mind skills in a safe environment

59
Q

Describe the theory of Mind (4)

A
  • refers to our ability to attribute mental states to ourselves and others
  • these can be emotions, desires…
  • it is also how we use this knowledge to explain predict the actions of others
  • we use this knowledge to understand that people may have different ideas and hold different emotions to us.
60
Q

Why the test may not accurately measure attribution of mental state? (2)

A
  • the pictures were of static eyes.
  • When we are attributing mental states, we see moving eyes/ facial expression
61
Q

How was the RET useful?

A

It is a useful test with which to identify subtle impairments in social intelligence in otherwise normally intelligent adults.

It also distinguishes very high functioning adults with autism from controls

62
Q

Which results validates the RET as a test for impairments in social intelligence?

A

Group 1 performed worse on the RET

63
Q

Real word application

A

Educators can help out students who score low on the RET by giving them extra support (e.g. through extra classes) to improve their theory of mind skills in a safe environment

64
Q

Validity (evaluation point)

A

P- The study may lack validity due to the nature of the RET.

E- Getting people to judge emotion purely based on eyes only does not reflect on how humans process emotions in everyday settings. People process the entire face plus other non-verbal cues to understand the emotions of another person.