Experimental Study Using the Function Acquisition Speed Test to Assess Social Biases in Children with Autism

• Grant number: 25/08087-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: November 01, 2025
• End date: October 31, 2029
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Psychology - Experimental Psychology
• Principal Investigator: Nassim Chamel Elias
• Grantee: Weslen Chaves Rodrigues
• Host Institution: Centro de Educação e Ciências Humanas (CECH). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Prejudice, whether racial or gender-based, is a phenomenon that can manifest in both explicit and implicit attitudes, shaping social behaviors from childhood. Previous studies suggest that children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) process social information differently, raising questions about how they develop and express biases. This research project aims to investigate the manifestation of implicit and explicit prejudice in children with ASD compared to typically developing children. A total of 80 participants will be recruited, divided into two groups: 40 children with ASD and 40 typically developing children, matched by age, gender, and IQ. Implicit attitudes will be measured using the Function Acquisition Speed Test (FAST), while explicit attitudes will be assessed through self-report scales, such as the Modern Racism Scale (MRS) and the Modern Sexism Scale (MSS). Additionally, the Critério Brasil will be used to evaluate participants' socioeconomic status, and the Social Responsiveness Scale - Second Edition (SRS-2) will determine the level of support required for children with ASD. The central hypothesis is that children in both groups will exhibit implicit biases, with some attenuation in autistic children and expected differences in the expression of explicit attitudes, possibly due to variations in the internalization of social norms. This research seeks to determine whether the FAST procedure is effective in measuring stimulus relationships in neurodivergent populations, while also deepening the understanding of prejudice in children with ASD, contributing to the development of more effective interventions and the promotion of equality and social inclusion. (AU)