Baron-Cohen

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

• test if high functioning adults w Autism will score lower on Advanced Theory of Mind test compared to non-autistics/tourettes
• test if within normal population, females will do better on AToM test compared to males

Question 2

Research Method

Answer 2

• Quasi: Lab procedure, standardised, control
• Independent measures: individual differences
• Self-report: closed Qs

Question 3

Variables

Answer 3

• IV: autistic, clinically normal, Tourette’s
• DV: no. correct responses on ‘eye task’

Question 4

Sample

Answer 4

• 16 high functioning autistics - self-selected from autistic magazine
• 50 normal - random from subject panel
• 10 tourettes - London referral centre
• 1 & 3 mostly male, 1 & 2 passed Sally-Anne test at 6

Question 5

Procedure

Answer 5

• eye task: b & w photos of 25 sets of eyes shown for 3s
• ppts asked to select word which best described pic from target word (right ans, eg. friendly) to foil word (wrong ans, eg. unfriendly)
• each ppt tested on: eye task, Happe’s strange stories task, 2 control tasks: gender recognition, basic emotion full face recognition
• ppts tested in quiet room in own home or laboratory at Cambridge Uni

Question 6

Results

Answer 6

Mean score (/25)
Gender
- Female: 22
- Male: 19

Condition
- Autistic: 16
- Normal/Tourettes: 20

Question 7

Results cont.

Answer 7

• autistic adults significantly more errors on strange story task than either groups
• no diffs between 3 groups of ‘control tasks’

Question 8

Type of data

Answer 8

Quantitaive: results scores, easily compared, objective but no insight

Question 9

Conclusions

Answer 9

• compared to ‘normal’ & tourettes, autistic adults had poorer performance on advanced ToM test ~ suggests lack of ToM skills
• NOT ; of low intelligence, neuropsychiatric disability, age
• normal fm better eye tasks than m ~ hv better ToM skills

Question 10

Validitiy

Answer 10

• high internal: eyes task/strange stories task = same results (autistics did worse) ~ tests what it’s set out to test
• low ecological: photos, only eyes, b & w, unrealistic, autistic ppl tend to dislike eye contact ~ less experience

Question 11

Reliabilty

Answer 11

• standardised, same pics/instructions, eyes, b & w, ~ similar experience ~ replicable
• but diff locations

Question 12

Sampling bias

Answer 12

• small sample 4 autism & tourettes but m & f matched by gender
• mean age: 30, matched by age but ignores kids
• Cambridge uni: matched by high IQ, but not everyone has ~ not representative
• ONLY looks at 1 aspect of spectrum - Asperger’s

Question 13

Ethnocentrism

Answer 13

• Cambridge: UK, Western ideas - diff ideas for diff regions

Question 14

Ethics

Answer 14

• IC: volunteered
• Socially sensitive: when generalising, could generate stereotypes

Question 15

Practical applications

Answer 15

• can apply in school/educational settings
• teach how to recognise facial expression to kids w autism, eg. creating educational, fun yt vids