Autism Spectrum Quotient – AQ
Measures autistic traits in adults and adolescents of normal intelligence.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Autism Spectrum Quotient – AQ was developed by Simon Baron-Cohen, Sally Wheelwright, Richard Skinner, Joanne Martin, & Emma Clubley (2001). It is designed to measure Autism traits. The scale is intended for use with Adults and adolescents aged 16+ with normal intelligence.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 50 items organized into 5 factors/subscales: Social skill, Attention switching, Attention to detail, Communication, Imagination.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Social skill | 1,11,13,15,22,36,44,45,47,48 | 10 |
| Attention switching | 2,4,10,16,25,32,34,37,43,46 | 10 |
| Attention to detail | 5,6,9,12,19,23,28,29,30,49 | 10 |
| Communication | 7,17,18,26,27,31,33,35,38,39 | 10 |
| Imagination | 3,8,14,20,21,24,40,41,42,50 | 10 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: definitely_agree = Definitely Agree, slightly_agree = Slightly Agree, slightly_disagree = Slightly Disagree, definitely_disagree = Definitely Disagree.
The scale includes 26 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 0 to 50. Interpretation guidelines:
- Average / Non-clinical: 0 – 28
- Clinically significant autism traits: 29 – 50
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Moderate to high internal consistency.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.