Assessment of self-report response bias in high functioning autistic people

• Published in: Psychiatry, psychology, and law Vol. 30; no. 3; pp. 229 - 248
• Main Authors: Sher, Marilyn A., Oliver, Caroline
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Routledge 01-06-2023; Australian Academic Press Group Pty Ltd
• Subjects: Asperger's syndrome; Autism; Autistic people; Deception; Discrimination; Distortion; Distress (Psychology); High functioning; high functioning autism; impression management; Malingering; Normative data; Psychological aspects; Psychological distress; Response bias; Self report; socially desirable responding; UNITED STATES; GREAT BRITAIN; malingering; impression management; response bias; socially desirable responding; high functioning autism
• ISSN: 1321-8719; 1934-1687
• DOI: 10.1080/13218719.2021.2006097

The study aimed to establish a normative data set for the Paulhus Deception Scales (PDS) and Structured Inventory of Malingered Symptomology (SIMS) in a community adult sample of high functioning autistic (HFA) people. Assessments were administered anonymously online. Seventy surveys were completed, with respondents contributing from 16 countries. The majority of subscales and total scores for the PDS and SIMS fell above cut-off for self-report response bias, suggesting that completion of these measures by HFA individuals may lead to conclusions of intentional response distortion, even when this is not the case. Significant relationships were found between high scores and education level, as well as psychological distress. The findings of the study raise concerns about the use of these measures with HFA people, particularly in 'high stakes' situations.