Factor structure for autism spectrum disorders with toddlers using DSM-IV and DSM-5 criteria.

Sipes et al. (2014) asked: do we need two or three groups of symptoms when we score the BISCUIT for toddlers? They ran a factor analysis on the toddler form of the BISCUIT. The test compares the old DSM-IV style (three factors) with the newer DSM-5 style (two factors).

They looked at which model fits the data better. The goal was to see if the switch to DSM-5 should change how we total the scores.

Both models fit the numbers pretty well. The three-factor model still fit best when the computer ran the stats. That means the old Social, Communication, and RRB split is still the cleanest way to score the toddler form.

The authors say: keep using the standard three-factor scoring sheet. No need to retrain teams on a two-factor version right now.

Norris et al. (2012) tried the same question on the ADOS with older kids. Back then, no single model won; fit changed by age and IQ. The toddler BISCUIT study now gives a clearer answer for the youngest group.

Albert et al. (2024) moved the field forward again. They used a newer bifactor model on ADOS-2 Module 3. That paper shows one big autism factor plus two smaller ones. It does not cancel the 2014 finding; it just uses a fancier math tool on a different test.

Together the papers draw a timeline: ADOS (mixed fit) → BISCUIT toddler (three-factor wins) → ADOS-2 (bifactor wins). Each step refines, rather than erases, the last one.

If you score the BISCUIT toddler form, keep the three-factor template in your Excel sheet or scoring app. You do not need to rebuild reports around Social-Communication versus RRB totals yet. Watch for future updates, but for now your baseline, progress, and criterion scores stay comparable with past data.