BARON-COHEN (complete)

Question 1

The psychology being investigated

Answer 1

Whether autistic adults have an underdeveloped cognitive process (theory of mind). Which is the cognitive ability that enables people to realise others have differing beliefs, feelings, desires and knowledge from their own. A theory of mind is linked to empathy which informs one’s ability to assign an appropriate mental state to another person.

Question 2

The psychology being investigated- Autism

Answer 2

Individuals with ASD have
underdeveloped cognitive process linked to social interaction.

Question 3

Background- Part 1: fThe original Reading the Mind in the Eyes test (1997)

Answer 3

The test was used to investigate whether autistic adults had problems employing the theory of mind. They compared a group of non autistics with a group of autistics. The ppts were shown photos of eyes and were asked to identify the emotions being shown from 2 options. BC assumed that the test would use cognitive processes associated with TOM as ppts needed to empathise with the person to work out their emotional state. The results showed that autistics identified fewer emotions that the non autistics. But there were several issues with the original task.

Question 4

Background: Name the 6 problems with the original Eyes Test.

Answer 4

1. The ?s were forced choice with only 2 options which were always opposite in meaning. (Too easy)
2. Only 25 eye sets were used in the test so many in the ASD group scored 24/25, causing a ceiling effect.
3. The eyes illustrated both easy basic and complex emotions.
4. The emotions in some photos could be solved by checking the direction in which the eyes were gazing.
5. Imbalance of male and female faces.
6. Ppts might not have understood the words in the task.

Question 5

Background: Name the 6 solutions of the Revised Eyes Test.

Answer 5

1. The number of categories was increased to 4 and they weren’t opposites.
2. 36 eye sets were used in the final analysis of the results of the revised test.
3. Only eyes expressing complex emotions were used.
4. These sets of eyes were deleted from the test. (Solvable)
5. Equal number of male and female faces.
6. Ppts were given a glossary

Question 6

Lab experiment

Answer 6

As the environment in which the ppts were tested was not the regular or usual situation in which emotions are detected.

Question 7

Quasi-experiment

Answer 7

Pppts are assigned on a condition based on a given characteristic. (ASD)

Question 8

Independent variable

Answer 8

The type of ppt in each condition

Question 9

Dependent variable

Answer 9

2 key measures for the DV
1) Score on the revised eyes test
2) Score on the AQ

Question 10

Experimental design

Answer 10

Independent groups design as comparisons were made between different groups of ppts.

Question 11

Describe group 1

Answer 11

15 Autistic adult males
Mean IQ of 115
Mean age of 29.7
Volunteer sample: Ad in the Autistic Society magazine and support groups. All had been diagnosed in specialist centres using the DSM/ICD.

Question 12

Describe group 2

Answer 12

Adult comparison group
122 Non Autistic males and females.
Mean age of 46.5
Opportunity sample: selected from adult education classes in Exeter and public library uses in Cambridge.

Question 13

Describe group 3

Answer 13

Student comparison group
103 non autistic males and females
Mean age of 20.8
Opportunity sample: Selected from the Cambridge Uni.

Question 14

Describe group 4

Answer 14

14 IQ matched ppts
Non autistic males
Mean age of 28
Mean IQ or 116
Randomly selected from general population

Question 15

Procedure: Developing the revised eyes test.

Answer 15

1) The researchers started with 40 eye sets/ target words/ foil words.
2) The target words/ foil words were developed/ piloted on 8 judges. At least 5 of the judges had to agree on the target word. No more than 2 judges could select a foil words instead of the target word. This process was repeated until the criteria was met.
3) After testing, 4 of the items produced inconsistent results and thus were removed. So the final result was based on 36 eye sets and 4 target words.

Question 16

Procedure: Implementing the eyes test.

Answer 16

1) Ppts had to read through a glossary to ensure they knew the meaning of each words and could refer back to it.
2) Then, Each ppts were given a practice items followed by the sets of eyes and had to pick the correct word out of 4 choices.
3) Group 1 was also given a gender recognition test as a control tasks
4) Group 1,3,4 had to complete an AQ test at home and return it by post.

Question 17

Results on the eyes test

Answer 17

Group 1 identified fewer correct emotions that the control groups.

Average number of emotions correctly identified.
Group 1 21.9
Group 2 26.2
Group 3 28.0
Group 4 30.9

Question 18

Results in the AQ test

Answer 18

Group 1 scores sig higher on the AQ test that the student comparison group and IQ matched group.
Average score on the AQ test
Group 1 35
Group 3 20
Group 4 19

Question 19

Results in the comparison between the Eyes and the AQ test

Answer 19

There was a negative correlation (-0.53) between the AQ score and Eyes test. As a persons AQ score increases their ability to identify emotions decreases.

Question 20

Results on gender recognition tasks

Answer 20

In the pilot tests: Group 2 and 3 achieved 100% on gender and Group 1 identified 33/36 genders

Question 21

Results on gender differences between ppts

Answer 21

Eyes test: There were sex differences between the results of males and females in groups 2, 3 but not significant.

AQ test Males has higher AQ scores in the control groups than females.

Question 22

Name 1 Strength of the experiment

Answer 22

Lab experiment was used, so there was a high level of control and standardisation. Improving internal validity and thus a causal relationship can be inferred. (Control groups, pretested, quiet room,gender recognition talks)

Question 23

Name a 2nd Strength of the experiment

Answer 23

Natural experiments allow researchers to study variables that would be unethical or impossible to manipulate (autism) . Thus this study is able to explore the theory of mind of autistics in an practical and ethical way.

Question 24

Controls used in the study

Answer 24

The test was completed in a quiet room in Exeter to control for extraneous variables as the risk of distraction is reduced. The use of control groups and a matched IQ group, establish the studies validity as they allow the researchers to determine that the variable of autism and not IQ is responsive for these changes inc internal validity. The test was pretested on 8 judges, increasing validity of the measures used. Control tasks for gender recognition proved that the there were features that could be identified that didn’t require the TOM. Standardised procedure (same test, same instructions)

Question 25

Name a 3rd strength of the experiment

Answer 25

The revised version of the test addressed issues that limited the validity of results. (Examples) These changes led to to normal performances being below the ceiling of the test. (A scored lower)

Question 26

Name a 4th strength

Answer 26

Real world application- could be used as a diagnostic tool, programmes could be conducted to help autistics to develop interpreting emotions.

Question 27

Name 1 weakness of the study

Answer 27

In quasi-experiments it is not possible to randomly allocate ppts to conditions thus ppt variables
can confound the results as differences are not spread out across conditions. Thus there could be another variable responsible for causing differences.

Question 28

Name another weakness of the study

Answer 28

The task lacks ecological validity as in real life eyes are not static or 2D, thus the artificiality of the task and setting lowers ecological validity and makes generalising the findings difficult.!

Question 29

Name a 3rd weakness of the study’s

Answer 29

The experimental sample was small (15 Autistic males) which may not be representative of all people who have been diagnosed with ASD making it difficult to make generalisations.

Question 30

Conclusions

Answer 30

1. Autistics have an impaired cognition of identifying the emotions of others and thus lack a theory of mind .
2. Sex differences in the comparison groups males showed greater levels of autistic traits and scored lower on the RET
3. The revised version of the test is more efficient at measuring social intelligence in relation to autism