Validation of a brief quantitative measure of autistic traits: comparison of the social responsiveness scale with the autism diagnostic interview-revised.
The 15-minute SRS gives reliable, quantitative autism-trait scores that match the far longer ADI-R.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The team wanted a faster way to measure autism traits. They compared the 15-minute Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) with the long Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R).
They gave both tools to a mixed group of children and teens. Then they checked how well the scores matched.
What they found
SRS scores lined up strongly with ADI-R algorithm scores. Different raters also gave similar SRS scores, showing the tool is reliable.
The brief caregiver survey gave a solid, number-based picture of autism traits.
How this fits with other research
Pine et al. (2006) extended the finding to preschoolers. They showed SRS can track small changes over time, not just give a one-time snapshot.
Tassé et al. (2013) warned that the ADI-R itself can lose sensitivity in children under five. Because the SRS is tied to ADI-R scores, clinicians should still be cautious with very young kids.
Barthelemy et al. (1989) introduced the ADOS, a short observational measure. The SRS now pairs with it: one tool watches the child, the other asks the parent, giving a fuller picture in half the usual time.
Why it matters
You can swap the 90-minute ADI-R for the 15-minute SRS when you need a quick, numeric read of autism traits. Use it at intake, progress checks, or research visits. Just remember to pair it with an observational tool like ADOS and stay alert if the child is under five.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Studies of the broader autism phenotype, and of subtle changes in autism symptoms over time, have been compromised by a lack of established quantitative assessment tools. The Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS-formerly known as the Social Reciprocity Scale) is a new instrument that can be completed by parents and/or teachers in 15-20 minutes. We compared the SRS with the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) in 61 child psychiatric patients. Correlations between SRS scores and ADI-R algorithm scores for DSM-IV criterion sets were on the order of 0.7. SRS scores were unrelated to I.Q. and exhibited inter-rater reliability on the order of 0.8. The SRS is a valid quantitative measure of autistic traits, feasible for use in clinical settings and for large-scale research studies of autism spectrum conditions.
Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2003 · doi:10.1023/a:1025014929212