Graduate Program

School Psychology

Degree Name

Specialist in School Psychology

Semester of Degree Completion

2009

Thesis Director

Ronan Bernas

Thesis Committee Member

Christine McCormick

Thesis Committee Member

Marjorie Hanft-Martone

Abstract

Individuals with autism often show deficits in Theory of Mind (ToM), their ability to understand the perceptions of others. The relationship between functioning level and ToM abilities in children with autism has not been adequately explored. This study utilized a nonverbal task of ToM adapted from previous research (Colle, Baron-Cohen, & Hill, 2007) which allowed examination of lower functioning or nonverbal individuals. Participants included nine individuals with autism spectrum disorders and nine normally developing individuals. Functioning level was estimated using a brief autism rating scale. When controlling for nonverbal abilities and age, no significant differences in ToM abilities were found between the autism and control groups. Likewise no relationship between functioning level and ToM emerged within the autism group. These results may be due to several methodological issues.

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