Scale Analysis

The ToM Scale (Theory of Mind Measure) is based on tasks that assess the ability to understand the mental states of others. These tasks were developed by researchers such as Happé (1994) and Hutchins et al. (2008) and include verbal scenarios, stories, and comprehension questions.

Purpose of the Questionnaire (Scale)

The main goal of the scale is to evaluate theory of mind (ToM) in children and adults, with an emphasis on understanding beliefs, emotions, and social inferences. The scale can be used both in research contexts and in clinical assessments, particularly for individuals with autism spectrum disorders or other developmental disorders.

Structure & Questions

The ToM Scale includes 4 main categories of tasks, each with its own groups of questions:
False Belief Tasks: Stories are presented (e.g., Sally-Anne test) where the participant must predict a character’s behavior based on false beliefs.
Example: “Where will Sally look for her ball?”
Strange Stories Test: Assesses the understanding of irony, lying, and sarcasm.
Example: “Why did Maria say she liked the gift, even though she actually didn’t?”
Theory of Mind Task Battery: Includes 15 questions covering various aspects of ToM, such as understanding emotions and intentions.
ToM Storybooks (Illustrated Stories): Use pictures and simple stories to evaluate the understanding of emotions and beliefs in young children. Participants answer each question by choosing or describing the correct answer. For closed-ended questions, a 3- or 5-point Likert scale is used (from “Not at all” to “Very much”).

Statistical Analysis

The administration time for the scale is 20–30 minutes, depending on the participant’s age and abilities. Results are scored based on:
Accuracy of answers (right/wrong).
Completeness of reasoning (for open-ended questions).

Validity and Reliability

The tasks have high validity and reliability, with Cronbach’s alpha indices ranging between 0.75 and 0.90 across the different subscales. Moreover, the scale can differentiate between typical and clinical populations.

References

Happé, F. G. E. (1994). Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 24(2), 129–154.
Hutchins, T. L. et al. (2008). Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 23(4), 195–206.

Keywords

Theory of Mind, Assessment, Psychometrics, Questionnaire, Scale, Analysis, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Research Proposal, Clinical Assessment, Social Inferences, Emotion Understanding.