Reliability and Validity of Urdu Version of Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) for Children and Adolescent

Abstract

Aim of the Study: In Pakistan, there is a dearth of contextualized tools for measuring the traits of children having Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The current study was conducted to determine the validity and reliability of the Urdu version of the Autism Spectrum Quotient (UAQ) for children with ASD.

Methodology: The study was conducted in two stages. In the first stage, forward and backward Urdu translation by the researcher with the help of six bilingual (English and Urdu) experts, was carried out. Content and face validity were carried out by experts in this stage. Suggestions and recommendations given by the experts were administered for the pilot testing on 30 children. In the second stage reliability, test-retest reliability, inter-rater reliability, predictive validity and Content Validity Index (CVI) were analyzed.

Findings: Findings showed that coefficient of Alpha reliability for Urdu version of Autism Spectrum Quotient (UAQ) was 0.952, test-retest was found as 0.738, inter-rater reliability was found to as 0.828, and Scale wise Content Validity Index (S-CVI) was found as 0.93. Results showed that UAQ was proved to be appropriate, acceptable, reliable and valid tool to use in Pakistan.

Conclusion: The scale was found to be linguistically and culturally suitable for the Pakistani context. Findings of this study could be beneficial to psychologists, teachers, parents, and researchers who intend to investigate symptoms of autism for children and adults of average intelligence.