The autism-spectrum quotient (aq): evidence from asperger syndrome/high-functioning autism, malesand females, scientists and mathematicians.
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| Title: | The autism-spectrum quotient (aq): evidence from asperger syndrome/high-functioning autism, malesand females, scientists and mathematicians. |
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| Authors: | Baron-Cohen S (AUTHOR), Wheelwright S (AUTHOR), Skinner R (AUTHOR), Martin J (AUTHOR), Clubley E (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders. Feb2001, Vol. 31 Issue 1, p5-17. 13p. |
| Abstract: | Currently there are no brief, self-administered instruments for measuring the degree to which an adult with normal intelligence has the traits associated with the autistic spectrum. In this paper, we report on a new instrument to assess this: the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ). Individuals score in the range 0-50. Four groups of subjects were assessed: Group 1: 58 adults with Asperger syndrome (AS) or high-functioning autism (HFA); Group 2: 174 randomly selected controls. Group 3: 840 students in Cambridge University; and Group 4: 16 winners of the UK Mathematics Olympiad. The adults with AS/HFA had a mean AQ score of 35.8 (SD = 6.5), significantly higher than Group 2 controls (M = 16.4, SD = 6.3). 80% of the adults with AS/HFA scored 32+, versus 2% of controls. Among the controls, men scored slightly but significantly higher than women. No women scored extremely highly (AQ score 34+) whereas 4% of men did so. Twice as many men (40%) as women (21%) scored at intermediate levels (AQ score 20+). Among the AS/HFA group, male and female scores did not differ significantly. The students in Cambridge University did not differ from the randomly selected control group, but scientists (including mathematicians) scored significantly higher than both humanities and social sciences students, confirming an earlier study that autistic conditions are associated with scientific skills. Within the sciences, mathematicians scored highest. This was replicated in Group 4, the Mathematics Olympiad winners scoring significantly higher than the male Cambridge humanities students. 6% of the student sample scored 327plus; on the AQ. On interview, 11 out of 11 of these met three or more DSM-IV criteria for AS/HFA, and all were studying sciences/mathematics, and 7 of the 11 met threshold on these criteria. Test-retest and interrater reliability of the AQ was good. The AQ is thus a valuable instrument for rapidly quantifying where any given individual is situated on the continuum from autism to normality. Its potential for screening for autism spectrum conditions in adults of normal intelligence remains to be fully explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
| FullText | Links: – Type: pdflink Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: pbh DbLabel: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection An: 106080089 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: The autism-spectrum quotient (aq): evidence from asperger syndrome/high-functioning autism, malesand females, scientists and mathematicians. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Baron-Cohen+S%22">Baron-Cohen S</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wheelwright+S%22">Wheelwright S</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Skinner+R%22">Skinner R</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Martin+J%22">Martin J</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Clubley+E%22">Clubley E</searchLink> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Autism+%26+Developmental+Disorders%22">Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders</searchLink>. Feb2001, Vol. 31 Issue 1, p5-17. 13p. – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Currently there are no brief, self-administered instruments for measuring the degree to which an adult with normal intelligence has the traits associated with the autistic spectrum. In this paper, we report on a new instrument to assess this: the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ). Individuals score in the range 0-50. Four groups of subjects were assessed: Group 1: 58 adults with Asperger syndrome (AS) or high-functioning autism (HFA); Group 2: 174 randomly selected controls. Group 3: 840 students in Cambridge University; and Group 4: 16 winners of the UK Mathematics Olympiad. The adults with AS/HFA had a mean AQ score of 35.8 (SD = 6.5), significantly higher than Group 2 controls (M = 16.4, SD = 6.3). 80% of the adults with AS/HFA scored 32+, versus 2% of controls. Among the controls, men scored slightly but significantly higher than women. No women scored extremely highly (AQ score 34+) whereas 4% of men did so. Twice as many men (40%) as women (21%) scored at intermediate levels (AQ score 20+). Among the AS/HFA group, male and female scores did not differ significantly. The students in Cambridge University did not differ from the randomly selected control group, but scientists (including mathematicians) scored significantly higher than both humanities and social sciences students, confirming an earlier study that autistic conditions are associated with scientific skills. Within the sciences, mathematicians scored highest. This was replicated in Group 4, the Mathematics Olympiad winners scoring significantly higher than the male Cambridge humanities students. 6% of the student sample scored 327plus; on the AQ. On interview, 11 out of 11 of these met three or more DSM-IV criteria for AS/HFA, and all were studying sciences/mathematics, and 7 of the 11 met threshold on these criteria. Test-retest and interrater reliability of the AQ was good. The AQ is thus a valuable instrument for rapidly quantifying where any given individual is situated on the continuum from autism to normality. Its potential for screening for autism spectrum conditions in adults of normal intelligence remains to be fully explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1023/a:1005653411471 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 13 StartPage: 5 Titles: – TitleFull: The autism-spectrum quotient (aq): evidence from asperger syndrome/high-functioning autism, malesand females, scientists and mathematicians. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Baron-Cohen S – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Wheelwright S – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Skinner R – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Martin J – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Clubley E IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 02 Text: Feb2001 Type: published Y: 2001 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 01623257 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 31 – Type: issue Value: 1 Titles: – TitleFull: Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders Type: main |
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