Associations Between Conceptual Reasoning, Problem Solving, and Adaptive Ability in High-functioning Autism

Abstract

thinking is generally highly correlated with problem-solving ability which is predictive of better adaptive functioning. Measures of conceptual reasoning, an ecologically-valid laboratory measure of problem-solving, and a report measure of adaptive functioning in the natural environment, were administered to children and adults with and without autism. The individuals with autism had weaker conceptual reasoning ability than individuals with typical development of similar age and cognitive ability. For the autism group, their flexible thinking scores were significantly correlated with laboratory measures of strategy formation and rule shifting and with reported overall adaptive behavior but not socialization scores. Therefore, in autism, flexibility of thought is potentially more important for adaptive functioning in the natural environment than conceptual reasoning or problem-solving.

Longitudinal Examination of Adaptive Behavior in Autism Spectrum Disorders: Influence of Executive Function

“…Using a “flexible thinking” factor derived from EF tasks (e.g., Tower of Hanoi, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, etc. ), Williams and colleagues (2014) found that flexible thinking scores significantly correlated with VABS adaptive behavior composite scores in children and adults with ASD without ID.…”

Further understanding of complex information processing in verbal adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorders

“…The model developed from our prior study of cognitive functioning and adaptive ability made the distinction among flexible thinking, perceptual reasoning, and rule application (Williams et al, 2014). This model informed our current work, particularly in the choice of variables to examine with respect to differences relative to the control group with typical development.…”

“…Essentially, the same factor analysis, using a principal components analysis with Varimax rotation, as that reported in Williams et al (2014) was used to produce a three-factor solution in this study. The factor analysis assesses the latent variables that underlie the series of tests that are used, producing factor scores.…”

Asperger syndrome and partnership

“…General difficulties in communication are well known, as they are one of the core symptoms in ASD [17]. Problem solving is thought to be associated with the ability to think abstractly [22]. Persons with ASD are repeatedly shown to have problems in problem solving [23,24].…”