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Reliability and validity of advanced theory‐of‐mind measures in middle childhood and adolescence
Author(s) -
Hayward Elizabeth O.,
Homer Bruce D.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
british journal of developmental psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.062
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 2044-835X
pISSN - 0261-510X
DOI - 10.1111/bjdp.12186
Subject(s) - psychology , theory of mind , construct validity , comprehension , construct (python library) , reliability (semiconductor) , developmental psychology , cognitive psychology , internal validity , consistency (knowledge bases) , internal consistency , external validity , validity , cognition , psychometrics , social psychology , artificial intelligence , medicine , linguistics , philosophy , power (physics) , physics , pathology , quantum mechanics , neuroscience , computer science , programming language
Although theory‐of‐mind (ToM) development is well documented for early childhood, there is increasing research investigating changes in ToM reasoning in middle childhood and adolescence. However, the psychometric properties of most advanced ToM measures for use with older children and adolescents have not been firmly established. We report on the reliability and validity of widely used, conventional measures of advanced ToM with this age group. Notable issues with both reliability and validity of several of the measures were evident in the findings. With regard to construct validity, results do not reveal a clear empirical commonality between tasks, and, after accounting for comprehension, developmental trends were evident in only one of the tasks investigated.Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject?Second‐order false belief tasks have acceptable internal consistency . The Eyes Test has poor internal consistency. Validity of advanced theory‐of‐mind tasks is often based on the ability to distinguish clinical from typical groups.What does this study add?This study examines internal consistency across six widely used advanced theory‐of‐mind tasks. It investigates validity of tasks based on comprehension of items by typically developing individuals. It further assesses construct validity, or commonality between tasks.