Baron-Cohen (Eyes Test) Practice Questions Rubric
1.
Baron-Cohen et al. found a small but non-significant gender difference in the revised eyes test for the general population
and student controls (groups 2 and 3).
(a) State the gender difference they expected to find and why they expected to find this difference. [2]
Females better – because trend for female superiority in previous version of test / because females generally have
better theory of mind, better empathisers etc.
1 mark partial (statement of difference or reason), 2 marks full (statement of difference and
reason)
(b) What reason did Baron-Cohen et al. give for these results being non-significant? [2]
“If the effect size is relatively small, the chance of detecting a sex difference would be low”/not a big difference, so
unlikely to see it in a small sample
1 mark partial (brief reason), 2 marks full (detailed reason)
e.g. ‘not a big difference’ idea = 1 mark
2.
In the study by Baron-Cohen et al., they suggested that one problem with the original eyes test was that it suffered from a
ceiling effect.
(a) Explain what is meant by a ‘ceiling effect’. [2]
All participants score highly on the test = 1 mark
because it is too easy = 2nd mark
1 mark partial (basic statement: description of what a ceiling effect is)
2 marks full (expanded explanation: as both points above)
(b) Suggest why a ceiling effect is a problem in this study. [2]
Because it narrows the range of results/it is harder to discriminate between participants so in this study it would be
hard to tell who was very good and who was fairly good at judging emotion
1 mark partial (basic statement), 2 marks full (expanded explanation)
3.
From the study by Baron-Cohen et al. (eyes test), describe the Autism Quotient (AQ) results for the high-functioning
autism/Asperger syndrome (HFA/AS) group compared to the student controls (group 3). [4]
HFA/AS: Mean AQ 34.4 (all males)
Student controls: difference between genders; both lower than HFA/AS: Mean AQ 18.3 (all)
Mean AQ males = 19.5
Mean AQ females = 16.6
1 mark partial (1 difference observed, no data)
2 marks partial (2 differences observed, no data OR 1 difference, with data)
3 marks partial (2 differences observed, 1 with data)
2 marks partial (2 differences observed, both with data) controls had lower AQ than HFAs (1 mark)
AS had higher AQ than students, and the female students were lower still, only 16.6 on average (3 marks)
Baron-Cohen (Eyes Test) Practice Questions Rubric
4.
From the study by Baron-Cohen et al (eyes test):
(a) Describe how the Asperger syndrome/high-functioning autism (AS/HFA) participants were selected. [2]
Volunteer / self-selected sampling, through adverts in UK national Autistic Society magazine (or equivalent support
groups).
1 mark partial (either type of sampling or source), 2 marks full (e.g. either type of sampling and source, or sampling in
detail or source in detail).
(b) Describe how the normal adult (control) participants were selected. [2]
Opportunity sampling, from adult community/education classes (in Exeter) from public library users (in Cambridge)
1 mark partial (either type of sampling or source {e.g. source = environment or location}),
2 marks full (either type of sampling and source, or sampling in detail, or source in detail).
5.
The study by Baron-Cohen et al (eyes test) compared Asperger syndrome/high-functioning autism (AS/HFA) and control
groups.
(a) A graph was used to show the spread of eyes test scores in the control groups. Describe the general shape of this
graph. [2]
Graph is bar chart showing distribution of scores on eyes test for groups 2 and 3.
symmetrical distribution/same both sides; highest point is in the middle / mean/median/mode is highest point; normal distribution.
1 mark partial (‘normal distribution’ or one idea e.g. ‘bell-shaped’), 2 marks full (e.g. symmetrical and monomodal)
(b) Describe the difference in results on the eyes test between the AS/HFA group and any of the controls. [2]
AS/HFA lower than all control groups.
Group 4 IQ matched controls higher than AS/HFA (30.9 cf 21.9)
Group 3 Students: all (28.0); males (27.3); females (28.6)
Group 2 General population: all (26.2); males (26.0); females (26.4)
1 mark for ‘higher’ or ‘lower’; numbers with no description.
2 marks for identification of group/difference/numbers.
Numbers are not required for max mark.
6.
Baron-Cohen et al (eyes test) investigated Asperger syndrome/high-functioning autism (AS/HFA) participants.
(a) Identify two of the four tests from the WAIS-R used to assess IQ in the AS/HFA group. [2]
Baron-Cohen (Eyes Test) Practice Questions Rubric
7.
Baron-Cohen et al (eyes test) provided a glossary of 93 words to help participants to identify mental states. List four of
these words. [4]
ACCUSING
CONCERNED
DOMINANT
GUILTY
JOKING
SATISFIED
AFFECTIONATE
CONFIDENT
DOUBTFUL
HATEFUL
NERVOUS
SCEPTICAL
AGHAST
CONFUSED
DUBIOUS
HOPEFUL
OFFENDED
SERIOUS
ALARMED
CONTEMPLATIVE
EAGER
HORRIFIED
PANICKED
STERN
AMUSED
CONTENTED
EARNEST
HOSTILE
PENSIVE
SUSPICIOUS
ANNOYED
CONVINCED
EMBARRASSED
IMPATIENT
PERPLEXED
SYMPATHETIC
ANTICIPATING
CURIOUS
ENCOURAGING
IMPLORING
PLAYFUL
TENTATIVE
ANXIOUS
DECIDING
ENTERTAINED
INCREDULOUS
PREOCCUPIED
TERRIFIED
APOLOGETIC
DECISIVE
ENTHUSIASTIC
INDECISIVE
PUZZLED
THOUGHTFUL
ARROGANT
DEFIANT
FANTASIZING
INDIFFERENT
REASSURING
THREATENING
ASHAMED
DEPRESSED
FASCINATED
INSISTING
REFLECTIVE
UNEASY
ASSERTIVE
DESIRE
FEARFUL
INSULTING
REGRETFUL
UPSET
BAFFLED
DESPONDENT
FLIRTATIOUS
INTERESTED
RELAXED
WORRIED
BEWILDERED
DISAPPOINTED
FLUSTERED
INTRIGUED
RELIEVED
CAUTIOUS
DISPIRITED
FRIENDLY
IRRITATED
RESENTFUL
COMFORTING
DISTRUSTFUL
GRATEFUL
JEALOUS
SARCASTIC
1 mark per word × 4.
Ignore spelling/tense if word can be understood but do not accept synonyms
8.
Baron-Cohen et al say that the Eyes Test only involves the first and not the second stage in the attribution of theory of
mind. Describe both of these stages. [4]
Stage 1: attribution of relevant mental state (e.g. compassion)
Stage 2: inferring / inference of content of that mental state (e.g. compassion for her mother’s loss)
1 mark for naming stage, 1 mark for describing x 2
NB: responding is the second stage of ToM, not of attribution, so is incorrect for (b), but may be part of the answer for (a)
9. Baron-Cohen et al (eyes test) used four groups of participants. Describe two of these groups. [4]
Any two from:
1. AS and HFA (or ‘experimental’ group): 15 male adults with Asperger’s Syndrome or High Functioning Autistics. IQ = 115 av. i.e.
normal
NB: accept AS or HFA or both
2. Normal adults: 122 people from adult community and education classes in Exeter or Cambridge public library (mix of occupations:
unemployed, manual, professional, and
education: secondary school only, additional occupational or degree). IQ = 115 av. i.e. normal
Baron-Cohen (Eyes Test) Practice Questions Rubric
3. Normal adult students: 103 Cambridge undergraduates, 53 male / 50 female, 71 science / 32 other subjects, assumed to have high
IQ.
4. Random adults from population: 14, IQ matched with group 1, similar in age to group 1. IQ = 116 av. i.e. normal
1 mark partial, 2 marks full × 2
Partial = ’name’ of group only or one distinguishing feature.
Full = identification of group plus at least one additional detail (e.g. number, genders, source)
NB: details of sample p243
10. From the study by Baron-Cohen et al (eyes test):
(a) Describe one problem they identified with the original eyes test. [2]
Any one of these 8:
• forced choice
• parents of children with AS also scored lower than the general population
• ceiling effect so loss of ability to detect individual differences
• inclusion of both basic mental states meant some items were too easy (e.g. happy/sad/angry/disgusted) and could be recognised
without need to attribute belief
• gaze direction was sufficient to solve some items (e.g. noticing/ignoring)
• more female than male faces therefore biased
• target and foil were always opposites – too easy
• requirement to map word to picture (too demanding for those with linguistic delay).
1 mark partial, 2 marks full.
(b) Explain how the revised eyes test solves this problem. [2]
Baron-Cohen (Eyes Test) Practice Questions Rubric
11. Baron-Cohen et al made five predictions about the results on the revised eyes test. Describe two of these predictions. [4]
• The AS/HFA group would score significantly lower on the mental state judgments on the
Eyes Test (…but be unimpaired on the gender control judgments / …than…).
• The AS/HFA group would score significantly higher in the AQ (…than…).
• Females in the ‘normal’ groups (2 and 3) would score higher (than males on the Eyes Test).
• Males in the ‘normal’ group (3) would score higher (than females on the AQ).
• Scores on the AQ (and the Eyes Test) would be inversely correlated.
1 mark partial, 2 marks full x 2.
12. From the study by Baron-Cohen et al (eyes test):
(a) What is meant by ‘theory of mind’? [2]
ToM “is shorthand for the ability to attribute mental states to oneself or another person”.
1 mark partial, 2 marks full.
‘Mind reading/mentalising/social intelligence’ alone is not explanation of what is meant (0 marks).
Knowing what some else is thinking (1 mark).
(b) The control group were much better on the eyes test than the experimental group (of high functioning autistics and people
with Asperger syndrome). What does this tell us about theory of mind? [2]
Most likely:
That ToM normally helps to map mental states to facial expressions.
Also:
That first stage of ToM (attribution) requires identifying mental state from faces without a
need to infer content.
1 mark partial, 2 marks full.