Existing measures of communication challenges in autism are based on diagnostic criteria and research/clinical observations of autistic people, rather than what autistic people themselves identify as difficulties. In this study, the Conversation Questionnaire (CQ) was developed based on community engagement with autistic people to identify what…

Explores issues of indicator reliability, longitudinal stability, and parent-child similarity of family communication patterns (FCP). Demonstrates that several of the items in the standard FCP battery are highly unreliable for both parent and child respondents. Discusses a reconceptualization of research focusing on family norms and interaction.…

Wheeless' trust and solidarity scales are examined under conditions of positive and negative target person. Valence of stimulus is shown to have a strong influence on the performance of the scales. The problems on Wheeless' scales were not detected in the original validation studies because of the normal validation paradigm. That paradigm…

A study was conducted to test the reliability and validity of the Intimate Coding System (INCS)--an instrument designed to code verbal conversation in intimate relationships. Subjects, 34 married couples, completed Spanier's Dyadic Adjustment Scale, which elicited information about relational adjustment and satisfaction in intimate couples in…

To assess the psychometric characteristics of the Verbal Behavior Assessment Scale, the 15-item questionnaire was administered to pairs of caregivers of 115 individuals with developmental disabilities. Exploratory factor analysis involving 11 more participants revealed evidence concerning the distinction of three different communicative functions…