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Journal of autism and developmental disorders
06, 2017;47 (6): 1838-1853.

Psychometric Properties of the Autism-Spectrum Quotient for Assessing Low and High Levels of Autistic Traits in College Students.

Jennifer L Stevenson, Kari R Hart
Author Information
  1. Jennifer L Stevenson: Department of Psychology, Ursinus College, 601 East Main Street, Collegeville, PA, 19426, USA. jstevenson@ursinus.edu. ORCID
  2. Kari R Hart: Department of Mathematics and Computer, The Hotchkiss School, Lakeville, CT, USA.
PMID: 28349365 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-017-3109-1

Abstract

The current study systematically investigated the effects of scoring and categorization methods on the psychometric properties of the Autism-Spectrum Quotient. Four hundred and three college students completed the Autism-Spectrum Quotient at least once. Total scores on the Autism-Spectrum Quotient had acceptable internal consistency and test-retest reliability using a binary or Likert scoring method, but the results were more varied for the subscales. Overall, Likert scoring yielded higher internal consistency and test-retest reliability than binary scoring. However, agreement in categorization of low and high autistic traits was poor over time (except for a median split on Likert scores). The results support using Likert scoring and administering the Autism-Spectrum Quotient at the same time as the task of interest with neurotypical participants.

Keywords

Autism-Spectrum Quotient Autistic traits Internal consistency Scoring method Subscale scores Test–retest reliability

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MeSH Term

Adolescent
Autistic Disorder
Female
Humans
Male
Neuropsychological Tests
Psychometrics
Reproducibility of Results
Students
Young Adult
Evaluation Study Journal Article
Article has an altmetric score of 3

Word Cloud

Created with Highcharts 10.0.0Autism-SpectrumQuotientscoringLikertscoresconsistencyreliabilitycategorizationinternaltest-retestusingbinarymethodresultstraitstimeAutisticcurrentstudysystematicallyinvestigatedeffectsmethodspsychometricpropertiesFourhundredthreecollegestudentscompletedleastTotalacceptablevariedsubscalesOverallyieldedhigherHoweveragreementlowhighautisticpoorexceptmediansplitsupportadministeringtaskinterestneurotypicalparticipantsPsychometricPropertiesAssessingLowHighLevelsTraitsCollegeStudentsInternalScoringSubscaleTest–retest

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