Model invariance across genders of the Broad Autism Phenotype Questionnaire.
The BAPQ’s three-factor structure holds across genders, but the weak fit means you should trust subscale scores, not totals.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Broderick et al. (2015) ran a confirmatory factor analysis on the Broad Autism Phenotype Questionnaire. They wanted to know if the three-subscale structure works the same for men and women.
The team used adult volunteers. They checked whether each question loads on the same factor for both genders.
What they found
The three-factor model stayed the same across genders. That means you can compare scores between men and women.
But the overall fit was still poor. The questionnaire is okay for quick screening, not for final diagnoses.
How this fits with other research
English et al. (2020) found the same story with the Autism-Spectrum Quotient. Their three-factor model fit best, yet total scores were meaningless. Both papers warn: use subscales, not totals.
Kuenssberg et al. (2014) also used CFA on the AQ-Short Form and saw decent fit in adults with autism. Neill’s work extends this safety check to the BAPQ in a general adult sample.
MacLean et al. (2011) shows the flip side. Their CFA of the WAIS-III in adults with intellectual disability found awful fit, so the four-factor IQ model failed. Neill’s poor BAPQ fit echoes that caution: even accepted models can wobble.
Why it matters
You can keep using the BAPQ three subscales with both male and female clients. Do not hang important decisions on the total score. Treat the tool as a rough map, not a GPS.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
ASD is one of the most heritable neuropsychiatric disorders, though comprehensive genetic liability remains elusive. To facilitate genetic research, researchers employ the concept of the broad autism phenotype (BAP), a milder presentation of traits in undiagnosed relatives. Research suggests that the BAP Questionnaire (BAPQ) demonstrates psychometric properties superior to other self-report measures. To examine evidence regarding validity of the BAPQ, the current study used confirmatory factor analysis to test the assumption of model invariance across genders. Results of the current study upheld model invariance at each level of parameter constraint; however, model fit indices suggested limited goodness-of-fit between the proposed model and the sample. Exploratory analyses investigated alternate factor structure models but ultimately supported the proposed three-factor structure model.
Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2015 · doi:10.1007/s10803-015-2472-z