Factor structure and validation of Broad Autism Phenotype Questionaire (BAPQ) and comparing psychometric structures of it with Autsim Quotient (AQ)

Aim and Autistic traits may present in normal population without interfering with daily functionings. The present investigation is to find factor structure and validation of Broad Autism Phenotype Questionaire (BAPQ) and comparing psychometric structures of it with Autsim Quotient (AQ). Methods and Materials: In this correlational study، 351 students in Shahid Beheshti University completed two questionnaires of Autism Phenotype Questionaire (BAPQ) and Autsim Quotient (AQ) which are designed to assess autistic traits in normal population. Exploratory factor analysis was used for evaluation of validity. Chronbach Alpha، split half and test-retest methods were used for evaluation of reliability. Exploratory analysis showed 4 factors for BAPQ which totally explained 37 percent of the overall variance of the data. Two subsets of BAPQ questionnaire (pragmatic language and rigid personality) plus its overall score and two subscales of AQ (imagination and communication) plus its overall score are able to differentiate between two sexes which shows high discriminant validity of these scales. Chronbach alpha shows reliability of 82 percent for BAPQ questionnaire. Based on the findings، BAPQ is a better scale regarding validity and reliability and also has better discriminant validity of two sexes. Future research is suggested to use this questionnaire.