Psychometric data on the Eyes Test, the Faux Pas Test, and the Dewey Social Stories Test in a population-based Swedish adult sample

Abstract

Neuropsychological testing of theory of mind, i.e. the capacity to imagine the mental content of others, is a valuable aid in clinical diagnosis of Asperger syndrome and high-functioning autism. The revised Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (ET), the Faux Pas Test (FP), and the Dewey Social Stories Test (DSST) were translated into Swedish and administered to a population-based sample, 68 adults in all. Where comparable, results were similar for the Swedish versions and the original versions. Reliability was excellent for FP but insufficient for ET and DSST. Test score distributions failed strict normality tests. ET intercorrelated with FP and FP with DSST, but there was no correlation between ET and DSST. There were only a few significant correlations with background variables. Scaled-score conversion tables are appended. FP shows promise as a psychometrically sound test. Further research on these tests involving clinical groups is needed, as well as further development of clinical tests of theory of mind for adults.

Keywords:

• theory of mind
• neuropsychology
• Asperger syndrome
• high-functioning autism
• clinical assessment
• psychometrics.

Acknowledgements

This study was funded by FoU-rådet Södra Älvsborg and Vuxenpsykiatriska kliniken, Södra Älvsborgs Sjukhus. Thanks for invaluable help go to Madeleine Romild, Sandra Weineland, and Maria Larsson.