ERIC Number: EJ1184790
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018-Jul
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1362-3613
EISSN: N/A
Understanding Self-Reported Difficulties in Decision-Making by People with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Vella, Lydia; Ring, Howard A.; Aitken, Mike R. F.; Watson, Peter C.; Presland, Alexander; Clare, Isabel C. H.
Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice, v22 n5 p549-559 Jul 2018
Autobiographical accounts and a limited research literature suggest that adults with autism spectrum disorders can experience difficulties with decision-making. We examined whether some of the difficulties they describe correspond to quantifiable differences in decision-making when compared to adults in the general population. The participants (38 intellectually able adults with autism spectrum disorders and 40 neurotypical adults) were assessed on three tasks of decision-making (Iowa Gambling Task, Cambridge Gamble Task and Information Sampling Task), which quantified, respectively, decision-making performance and relative attention to negative and positive outcomes, speed and flexibility, and information sampling. As a caution, all analyses were repeated with a subset of participants (n[subscript ASD] = 29 and n[subscript neurotypical] = 39) who were not taking antidepressant or anxiolytic medication. Compared to the neurotypical participants, participants with autism spectrum disorders demonstrated slower decision-making on the Cambridge Gamble Task, and superior performance on the Iowa Gambling Task. When those taking the medications were excluded, participants with autism spectrum disorders also sampled more information. There were no other differences between the groups. These processing tendencies may contribute to the difficulties self-reported in some contexts; however, the results also highlight strengths in autism spectrum disorders, such as a more logical approach to, and care in, decision-making. The findings lead to recommendations for how adults with autism spectrum disorders may be better supported with decision-making.
Descriptors: Decision Making Skills, Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Adults, Task Analysis, Measures (Individuals), Statistical Analysis, Anxiety, Cognitive Processes, Intelligence Tests, Observation, Diagnostic Tests
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Wechsler Intelligence Scales Short Forms; Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A