An exploration of how typical pupils and pupils with autism or Asperger’s syndrome draw faces

Edwards, Ceri Brendan (2018). An exploration of how typical pupils and pupils with autism or Asperger’s syndrome draw faces. University of Birmingham. M.Phil.

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Abstract

This study aimed to explore whether there are differences identified in visual processing, and whether this can be observed in how adolescents with autism draw a face when compared to a typically developing control group. A review of the literature highlighted that many studies used object drawing tasks of geometric shapes when researching in this area.

This study is a qualitative case study, informed by mixed methods and a pragmatic perspective using a purposive sample for selection of the participants.

The findings of this study identified five key findings, as follows:

A lack of draw towards the eyes; Random eye tracking; Problem of local facial processing; a lack of support for the current view that there is a bias towards local fine detail processing in autism and a deficit in global processing; a difference in top-down bottom-up processing of eyes between the two groups, which may be worth exploring in further studies.

Further research in this area would enable educators and other health and social care professionals to address this weakness at an early age to potentially reduce the impact on the child’s development and social awareness.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Masters by Research > M.Phil.)

Award Type:

Masters by Research > M.Phil.

Supervisor(s):