Validity and reliability of the Frith-Happé Animation Test in a Turkish sample

The lack of assessments for social cognitive functions in Turkiye highlights the need for valid and reliable measurement tools in this field. This study aims to examine the reliability and validity of the Frith-Happé Animation Test (AT) in a Turkish sample. Additionally, it investigates the impact of demographic variables such as age, gender, and education level on AT performance, and explores differences in social cognitive functions between individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and a healthy control group using the AT.

The study included 267 healthy adults (145 females, 122 males) aged 18-45, along with 20 individuals diagnosed with ASD (four females, 16 males) aged 18-39. Participants were categorized by gender, age group (18-25, 26-35, 36-45 years), and educational attainment (lower: ≤12 years; higher: >12 years). The AT and the Dokuz Eylul Theory of Mind Scale (DEToMS) were administered.

The AT demonstrated high internal consistency, with Cronbach's alpha coefficients of 0.673 for intentionality, 0.679 for appropriateness, 0.799 for certainty, and 0.906 for length. Test-retest analysis showed high stability in intentionality scores overall (r=0.835) and across different animation types. Criterion validity was moderate, with positive correlations between DEToMS total scores and intentionality scores (overall r=0.443; goal-directed r=0.368; theory of mind [ToM] r=0.437). Additionally, healthy individuals demonstrated better AT performance than those with ASD.

This study demonstrates that the Frith-Happé Animation Test is a valid and reliable measurement tool in a Turkish sample. In this context, it serves as an effective instrument for assessing social cognition and holds significant potential to contribute to future clinical assessments and scientific research.