Social Interaction in Autism Spectrum Presentation
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Social Interaction in Autism Spectrum Presentation: The Development of the Social Situation Stories Questionnaire (SSSQ)
IRAS ID
160572
Contact name
Aysha Begum
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of East London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Research summary
Autistic presentations are lifelong developmental disabilities affecting the way individuals communicate and relate to others, thus significantly impacting on social interaction resulting in various social disadvantages. The aim of the current study is to investigate whether individuals with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) have difficulties with social interaction because a proposed facet of normative social cognition is lacking or processed differently. The facet of social cognition proposed to account for some of these difficulties is the ‘motivation for desirable social interaction’ often observed in neurotypical individuals through their use of social overtures and social exchange. Using an existing social cognitive questionnaire for ASD, this study aims to develop a modified novel social cognition questionnaire that will allow us to test the proposed theory.
The current research study intends to recruit two groups of participants consisting of 12-15 in each: one group of individuals with an ASD and another group of individuals without an ASD (control group), so that data can be compared between the two groups. Both groups will be matched for age, sex and education.
Consenting participants will be given a brief screening assessment; following a neuropsychological and social cognition test battery (self administered paper questionnaire) will be administered lasting approximately 2 - 2.5hrs hours in total.
It is hypothesised that individuals with ASD compared to those without will score differently on the social cognition questionnaire.
REC name
South West - Cornwall & Plymouth Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/SW/1102
Date of REC Opinion
13 Oct 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion