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Investigating Event Memory in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Effects of a Computer-Mediated Interview

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Abstract

The present study aimed to examine the effects of a novel avatar interviewing aid during memory interviews with children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Thirty children were recruited for our study (Age: M = 7.60, SD = 0.68), half with ASD (13 boys; 2 girls) and the other half being neurotypical (13 boys; 2 girls). Children participated in a target event and were subsequently interviewed a week later by either an avatar interviewer or a human. The participants were also asked six misleading questions aimed to examine their suggestibility. Bayesian analysis showed some increase in memory performance for both groups of children interviewed by the avatar interviewer, and this effect exacerbated for children with ASD. These results showed encouraging implications for future applications.

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Acknowledgments

Special thanks to Yee-San Teoh in the Psychology Department at National Taiwan University for suggestions and advice to the content of this study.

Author Contributions

Conception or design of the work: Che-Wei Hsu; Data collection: Che-Wei Hsu; Data analysis and interpretation: Che-Wei Hsu; Drafting the article: Che-Wei Hsu; Critical revision of the article: Che-Wei Hsu, Yee-San Teoh; Final approval of the version to be published: Che-Wei Hsu, Yee-San Teoh.

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  1. Department of Psychology, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Che-Wei Hsu & Yee-San Teoh

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Hsu, CW., Teoh, YS. Investigating Event Memory in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Effects of a Computer-Mediated Interview. J Autism Dev Disord 47, 359–372 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-016-2959-2

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