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 Autistic traits. The scale is intended for use with Adults (ages 16+).
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 50 items organized into 5 factors/subscales: Social skills, Attention switching, Attention to detail, Communication, Imagination.
| Factor / Subscale |
Items |
N |
| Social skills |
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: 1 = Definitely agree, 2 = Slightly agree, 3 = Slightly disagree, 4 = 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 / Low Autistic Traits: 0 – 25
- Borderline Autistic Traits: 26 – 31
- Significant Autistic Traits (Clinical Threshold): 32 – 50
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Cronbach's alpha ranges from 0.63 to 0.77 for subscales, and 0.82 for the overall scale..
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.