Barton cohen

• Outline the background research that lead to the research by Baron-Cohen et al (4)

  1) Define what Autism is and the link to a theory of mind deficit.2) Outline the Sally Anne task (researched on 6 year olds) and what was found.3) Outline the Happes strange stories task (research on 8–9 year olds) and what was found.4) outline Baron Cohen’s belief that these tests were too simplistic to measure theory of mind in adults with high functioning autism and what he decided to do.
• What was the aim of Baron-Cohen's study?

  The aim of this study was to investigatewhether high–functioning adults with autism and Asperger syndromewould struggle with a new andmore difficult test for theory of mind is known as the ‘eyes task’.
• What was the sample used in Baron-Cohen's study? (3)

  Group 1 (experimental group): 16 people (13m & 3f) , high functioning autism or with Asperger's syndrome.

  
  

  Group 2 (control group): 50 people (25m & 25f) with no disorder

  
  

  Group 3 (control group): 10 people (8m & 2f) with Tourette's syndrome
• What was the sampling technique used in Baron-Cohen's study? (3)

  Group 1: volunteer sampling

  Group 2: random sampling

  Group 3: opportunity sampling
• Why was a group of people with Tourette's syndrome used in Baron- Cohen's study?

  Is it similar to autism, as they are both childhood psychiatric disorders associated with abnormalities in the frontal region of the brain.

  
  

  This allows Baron-Cohen to see whether an impaired theory of mind is unique to those with autism or people with similar psychiatric disorders such as Tourette's.
• What was the research method used in Baron Cohen's study?

  Quasi experiment
• What was the IV in Baron Cohen's study?

  naturally occurring IV, participants have been diagnosed with high functioning autism or Asperger's syndrome (group 1), were 'normal' (group 2), or had been diagnosed with Tourette's syndrome ( group 3).
• What was the DV in Baron Cohen's study?

  Number of correct answers out of 25 on the eyes task
• What was the experimental design used in Baron Cohen's study?

  Matched participants design
• What was the procedure used in Baron-Cohen's study? (3)

  - All participants were tested individually in a quiet room.

  - 2 experimental tasks and 2 control tasks.

  - These tasks were counterbalanced for each participant.
• Describe the 2 experimental tasks carried out in Baron-Cohen's study?

  Eyes taskAll participants were shown thesame set of 25 photographs of the eyesregion of different males and females. The photographs wereall black and white.This picture was shown for3 secondsand participants had to answer aforced choice questionabout the mental state of the person whose eyes they were viewing.

  The strange stories taskAll participants in group 1 (autistic)and group 3 (Tourette’s)were also tested on Happe’s strange stories task. This was the test for the concurrent validity of these results compared to the eyes task. If participants’ results on the strange stories task were concurrent with those in the eyes task, then the eyes task had high concurrent validity and was a valid test for lack of theory of mind.
• Describe the 2 control tasks carried out in Baron-Cohen's study and explain why these were done?

  Gender recognition taskP’s were asked to identify the gender of the eyes used in the eyes task.

  Basic emotion recognition taskP’s were shown black-and-white photos of her faces and asked to identify which of the six basic emotions were displayed.

  Control tasks were done to check if difficulties on the eye task where due to basic difficulties with either emotional recognition or face perception.
• What were the findings in Baron Cohen's study? (4)

  1. Individuals with autism score significantly lower on the eyes test (16.3) in comparison to the other groups ('normal' 20.3 and Tourette's 20.4).

  2. No real difference between the number of correctly identified eyes task, 'normal' (20.3) and Tourette's (20.4).

  3. The range score in the autism group (10) was higher than in the 'normal'/Tourette's group (9).

  4.There was no difference on scores on the control tasks
• What were the conclusions made from Baron Cohen's study?

  -Study providessupport for the idea that adults with autism or AS like a well-developed theory of mindas they were impaired on the eyes task despite having normal intelligence.

  – This impairment cannot be linked to just having a mental disorder as the participants with TS were not impaired thereforelack of theory of mind is specific to autism.
• Strengths of the research method in Baron Cohen's study? (2)

  1. This was a quasi-experiment and had a number of controls. Control tasks such as the gender recognition eyes task being used allowed Baron- Cohen to check the face perception ability of the participants, controlling for any difficulties in these areas and allowing them to be more confident in the results of the eyes task.

  2. The matched participants design allowed the participant variable of age to be controlled which increases internal validity.
• Weaknesses of the research method in Baron Cohen's study? (2)

  1. As this was a quasi-experiment the independent variable (Autism, Tourette’s or normal) was not controlled by the experimenter. Therefore, we cannot claim that the independent variable caused a change in the dependant variable. This means adirect cause of effect cannot be established.
• Strengths of the sample used in Baron Cohen's study?

  This was a self- selected sample. Previous research had only looked at children. The sample in this study was able to show that adults as well as children with ASD have mind-reading deficits. This means that the deficit is not due to immaturity, but is restricted in all people on the ASD spectrum which ishighly useful.
• Weaknesses of the sample used in Baron Cohen's study?

  In group 1 there were 13 men and 3 women. As the study found that women were better on the Eyes task the larger number of men in the sample may have had a negative effect on the results. The participants should have been matched for gender.
• Strengths of the quantitative data collected in Baron Cohen's study?

  The collection of numerical data in the Eyes tasks allows for easy comparison between the groups of participantsincreasing external reliability.
• Weaknesses of the quantitative data collected in Baron Cohen's study?

  This data may oversimplify the differences between the groups. For example, some people in the autism group may have been able to 'mind-read' people they know well but this wouldn't show up on the test.
• Strengths of the qualitative data collected in Baron Cohen's study?

  Some qualitative data was collected related to the experience of the participants with autism/ AS and watching movies. This kind of data offers interesting insight into the experience of people these conditions. When coupled with numerical data in enhances our understanding of autism. increasing internal validity.
• How is validity low in Baron Cohen's study? (2)

  1.Low ecological validity: the task used to assess ToM was much simpler than the real demands of a live social situation.2. As the study had a naturally occurring IV and participants were pre-decided into the conditions, there are many other individual differences that may have impacted their score on the eyes task,reducing internal validity and the ability to establish cause and effect
• How is validity high in Baron Cohen's study? (2)

  1.High internal: a lot of control over extraneous variables via the control tasks.2.High concurrent: with the Sally Anne task.
• How is reliability high in Baron Cohen's study?

  High internal: extremely standardised procedure. The participants were tested on a variety of tasks in exactly the same way. Each photograph was identical except for the expression of the eyes. This allows for easy replication of the procedure.
• How is Baron Cohen's study ethical?

  Debriefing– an adequate debriefing was delivered at the end of the research. psychologist adhered to theirresponsibilityfor the participants.
• How is Baron Cohen's study unethical? (2)

  1.Informed consent: although participants mostly volunteered their participation and were adults, they may be issues with people who lack a ToM and their ability to understand what is involved in a study and truly give informed consent. The BPS states that vulnerable people should not be expected to give consent on their own. Participants were notrespected.2.Protection of participants: Vulnerable groups are at greater risk of psychological harm. Confidence may have been affected after experiencing difficulties with the tasks. Psychologists failed to beresponsiblefor the participants.
• How is the nature debate illustrated in Baron Cohen's study?

  The basis of theory of mind deficit might be genetic, in accordance with the disorder.
• How is the nurture debate illustrated in Baron Cohen's study?

  The fact that women with autism/ASD have less theory of mind deficit may be because they are socialised to focus more on what people think.
• How is the reductionist debate illustrated in Baron Cohen's study?

  The study is reductionist as it focuses solely on individual differences, and doesn't explore any situational factors, such as the stress of the artificial setting, that may have led to their low score
• How is the deterministic debate illustrated in Baron Cohen's study?

  The study is deterministic as it assumes that their impaired theory of mind is pre-determined by their autism, so they are out of control of it.
• How is Baron Cohen's study useful?

  The study is incredibly useful, as it enhances our understanding of the problems and social pressures that autistic people face, so we can develop practical applications to improve their social skills and ability to empathise with others e.g. emotion flash cards for children.
• How is Baron Cohen's study socially sensitive?

  The discovery of a specific deficit in people with autism/ASD might lead to greater exclusion from jobs, education and relationships.
• How does Baron Cohen's study have limited usefulness?

  Low ecological validity may question the ability the generalise the results to how real live social situations present themselves to those with Autism/ASD.