Test of Understanding Implicatures [TOUI-6]

Description

The Test of Understanding Implicatures (TOUI-6) consists of 6 short social-interaction scenarios. In each scenario, one person makes an indirect remark, and the participant is asked to explain what the speaker actually meant. The task assesses the ability to understand indirect verbal communication and infer the speaker’s intention.

Purpose

The TOUI-6 assesses Theory of Mind, pragmatic language comprehension, and social cognition. It is particularly relevant for examining difficulties in understanding others’ intentions in conditions such as schizophrenia or frontotemporal dementia.

Scoring

A correct initial response receives 2 points. If the participant requires a clarifying prompt and then responds correctly, 1 point is awarded. The total score is calculated across all six scenarios.

Validity and Reliability

Formal evidence regarding validity and reliability is still under development. Future studies are expected to examine construct validity, content validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability.

Use

The test may be used in clinical and research settings to investigate social perception, empathy, indirect language processing, and Theory of Mind, particularly in psychiatric or neurodegenerative populations.

Reference

Corcoran, R., Mercer, G., & Frith, C. D. (1995). Schizophrenia, symptomatology and social inference: Investigating theory of mind in schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Research, 17, 5–13.