Baron Cohen Study

Front 1

The term theory of mind means the ability to recognise that people have minds (thoughts, knowledge and emotions and feelings). In Baron Cohens study, they were testing the effect of a lack of advanced theory of mind, where adults with autism find it difficult to identify subtle emotions from the eyes.

Back 1

Explain what is meant by the term “Theory of Mind2? (4)

Front 2

Participants were shown all 25 photographs of pairs of eyes, which they had to examine for 3 seconds. They then had to make a fixed choice between two emotions as to which one best described the eyes.

Back 2

From the study by Baron-Cohen on autism, briefly describe the eyes task.

Front 3

Two conclusions from Baron-Cohens study is that there was evidence of deficit of subtle mind reading amongst intelligent adults on the autistic spectrum. Another conclusion is that females have a better theory of mind development, possibly because of sex differences in the rate of development of ToM in early development, ie females are more superior in language development, while males are better in spacial skills.

Back 3

Outline two conclusions from Baron-Cohens Study (4)

Front 4

A strength of a snap shot study is that they allow the researcher to compare individuals or groups at one period in time, to see how they may be similar or different.
For example, In Baron Cohens study, the differences between the autistic and Tourette groups performance on the eyes task is down to autism or neuro-development disorder
This is a strength because cause and effect can be determined increasing the validity (accuracy) of the research.

Back 4

One strength of conducting a snapshot study in Baron Cohens Research (6)

Front 5

However they don’t account for individual differences as snap shot studies are repeated measures design.
For example, in Baron-Cohens study, the differences on the eyes task could’ve been due to the ability of groups to perform under pressure on the eyes task.
This is a weakness because the researcher may not be measuring what they intended to measure.

Back 5

One weakness of conducting a snapshot study in Baron Cohens Research (6)

Front 6

A snapshot study is a Repeated Measures Design where participants are studied only once, as the study isn’t conducted over a long period of time. Normally different ages from different groups are studied simultaneously, and quantitative data is gathered and then compared. So Baron-Cohens study was a snap shot study as participants only sat the eyes task once, either Tourette’s, Autistic and clinically normal. (Score out of 25 on the eyes task.

Back 6

What is a snapshot study in reference to Baron Cohens Study?

Front 7

A control over gender recognition and the whole face photograph was controlled to ensure basic
emotion recognition.
3 second control was controlled, so that some participants didn’t have longer to judge the faces, therefore increasing their score, so this ensures an equal chance for every participant.

Back 7

From the study by Baron-Cohen, explain why these controls were used (4)

Front 8

One way the researcher ensured that the eyes task was a valid measure of ToM was by using participants in group 1 (Autistic/Asperger’s), group 3 (Tourette syndrome) and tested them on Happes Strange Stories task (valid measure of ToM). The positive correlation between p’s performances in both tasks established concurrent validity (accuracy) of both tasks.

Back 8

From the study by Baron-Cohen on autism, describe one way in which the researchers ensured the Eyes Task was valid (4)

Front 9

Previous mind task didn't indentify problems with day to day mind reading abilities of autistic adults, as adults with autism would've developed theory of mind, and would pass the previous tests easily.
This advanced test (created practical applications to help adults with autism) aimed to discover if high functioning adults with autism or Asperger’s syndrome do in fact have problems with theory of mind, which is argued is related to the ability to employ a theory of mind.

Back 9

In the study by Baron-Cohen, explain why the researchers need to develop a new test for Theory of mind (4)

Front 10

To find out why adults with autism have problems with social relationships and to develop a new Theory of Mind for adults with autism.

Back 10

What was the aim of the study?

Front 11

The study was a natural (Quasi) experiment using matched pairs design.

Back 11

What was the research method?

Front 12

Via self selected - Recruited from different clinical institutions via advertisement in a magazine by the National Autistic Society.

Back 12

How was the autistic group recruited?

Front 13

Opportunity Sampling - Recruited amongst attendees of the Tourette's centre London.

Back 13

How was the Tourettes syndrome group recruited?

Front 14

randomly selected from Cambridge population and recruited via a panel of University Judges who ensured their IQ was above 85.d?

Back 14

How was the normal group recruited?

Front 15

Two controls by Baron Cohen was the control conditions of the whole face photographs, and gender recognition to ensure basic emotion recognition. Another control condition was p’s only having 3 seconds to examine the photograph (constant for all).

Back 15

From the study by Baron-Cohen, identify two controls used in this study. (2)

Front 16

What was the IV and DV in Baron Cohens study?

Back 16

The Independent variable was the 3 different groups of subjects (Autistic/Aspergers, Clinically 'normal' and tourette syndrome group). Whether they were either Autistic, normal or have tourettes.

The Dependent Variable was their performance on advanced test of ToM (score out of 25).

Front 17

3 Seconds only to examine the pictures (constant for all).
Happes Strange Stories to test concurrent validity
Control conditions of the whole face and gender recognition to ensure basic emotion.
Matched according to age and normal levels of intelligence.
Judges in agreement with emotions.

Back 17

What were the controls used in Baron Cohens Study?

Front 18

Females performed better in the eyes task (scoring 21.8), compared to males (who scored 18.8).

Back 18

Which gender performed better in the Eyes Task?

Front 19

The participants with tourettes were used as a control group because both tourettes and autism affect both parts of the brain

Back 19

Why were p's with tourette syndrome used as a control group?

Front 20

Autistic adults performed the worst in the Eyes Task (scoring 16.3), whereas normal and tourette adults scored 20.3/20.4

Back 20

Who performed worst in the Eyes Task?