The construction and validation of an abridged version of the autism-spectrum quotient (AQ-Short).
This study reports on the development and validation of an abridged version of the 50-item Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ), a self-report measure of autistic traits. We aimed to reduce the number of items whilst retaining high validity and a meaningful factor structure. The item reduction procedure was performed on data from 1,263 Dutch students and general population adults. The resulting 28-item AQ-Short was subsequently validated in 3 independent samples, both clinical and controls, from the Netherlands and the UK. The AQ-Short comprises two higher-order factors assessing 'social behavioral difficulties' and 'a fascination for numbers/patterns'. The clear factor structure of the AQ-Short and its high sensitivity and specificity make the AQ-Short a useful alternative to the full 50-item version.
Hoekstra
Rosa A
RA
Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, UK. R.A.Hoekstra@open.ac.uk
Vinkhuyzen
Anna A E
AA
Wheelwright
Sally
S
Bartels
Meike
M
Boomsma
Dorret I
DI
Baron-Cohen
Simon
S
Posthuma
Danielle
D
van der Sluis
Sophie
S
D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000175:diagnosis*; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D006801:Humans; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D057566:Self Report; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012919:Social Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult