Brief Report: Development and Validation of the Autism Spectrum Knowledge Scale General Population Version: Preliminary Analyses.
The ASKSG is a ready-to-use, 31-item quiz that reliably tracks how much the general public knows about autism.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The team built a 31-question quiz called the Autism Spectrum Knowledge Scale-General (ASKSG).
They gave it to 318 adults from the general public to see if the scores were steady and meaningful.
The goal was a free, fast way to measure how much everyday people know about autism.
What they found
The ASKSG showed solid reliability and validity for a general-population sample.
In plain words: if you use it before and after a training, the change in score is believable.
How this fits with other research
Taylor et al. (2017) looked at 44 autism-knowledge tools and found 93% lacked good psychometric data. McClain et al. (2019) fills that gap by giving us one that actually has the numbers.
Shahid et al. (2025) later spotted two biased items in the professional version (ASKSP-R). The ASKSG shares DNA with that scale, so keep an eye on items 14 and 15 if you compare lay and expert groups.
Galdino et al. (2020) and Grodberg et al. (2012) validated ultra-brief screeners for clinician use (AMSE). ASKSG mirrors their brief-is-better spirit, but targets public knowledge instead of child symptoms.
Why it matters
You now have a free, 31-item yardstick to measure community autism knowledge before school talks, police trainings, or parent nights. Pair it with the AMSE if you also need a quick child screen. Re-test after your workshop to show stakeholders real data on what people learned.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Despite the dramatic rise in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) prevalence, limited information is known about ASD knowledge of the general population. The Autism Spectrum Knowledge Scale, General Population version (ASKSG) was collaboratively constructed to create a measure of ASD knowledge specifically for the general population. The ASKSG is a 31-item measure that assesses one's knowledge and understanding of ASD. Adults in the general population participated in the current study (N = 318). Findings indicate that the ASKSG is a valid and reliable measure and can adequately measure ASD knowledge in this population. A greater understanding of general population knowledge pertaining to ASD can be used to better inform identification, intervention, and advocacy, thus improving the outcomes for individuals with ASD.
Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2019 · doi:10.1007/s10803-019-04019-8