Introduction
The table below summarises the measures used in the 8 Year questionnaire. Each measure is identified by the item numbers as used in the questionnaire, and by informal or formal names and descriptions. The number of items in each measure is shown, but note that some of these items have two or more parts, giving two or more item variables.
The final column of the table shows dataset scales that are related to each measure; each variable name here is a link that will take you to the relevant item in the 8 Year derived variables page.
Measures in the Questionnaire
Refer to the questionnaire (pdf) for the item numbers referred to in this table.
| Questionnaire item numbers | No. of items | Description of measure | References | Related derived variables |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Consent Form (front page, not numbered) |
7 | Confirmation of twin birth order, parent name and signature, and date | Included for admin reasons, as proof of consent, and to obtain the date of completion. |
Twin age at time of study: hage |
| 1 to 37, 74 and 75 | 39 | CAST (the Child Aspergers Symptoms Test). This is a screening measure for Aspergers syndrome, addressing three things: social impairment, problems with communication, and repetitive stereotyped behaviours. |
Scott, F.J., Baron-Cohen, S., Bolton, P., Brayne, C. (2002): The CAST (Childhood Asperger Syndrome Test): preliminary development of a UK screen for mainstream primary-school-age children. Autism, 6, 9-31 |
CAST scales: hcacomt1/2, hcanont1/2, hcasoct1/2, hcastt1/2 |
| 38 to 55 | 18 | Conners: parent rating scale, revised (CPRS-R). This 18-item DSM-IV ADHD symptom subscale taken from the revised parent Conners’ rating scale was used as the measure of inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms. |
Conners C.K. (2003): Conners’ Rating Scales-Revised: Technical Manual. New York: Multi-Health System Inc. |
Conners scales: hconhit1/2, hconint1/2, hconnt1/2 |
| 56 to 73 | 18 | RPQ (the Relationships Problems Questionnaire). Intended to pick up particular types of severe relationship problems. |
Minnis, H., Rabe-Hesketh, S., Wolkind, S. (2002): Development of a brief, clinically relevant, scale for measuring attachment disorders. Int.J Methods Psychiatr.Res, 11, 90-98 |
RPQ scale: hrpqt1/2 |
| 76 to 78 | 3 (with multiple parts) | Questions on special abilities. |
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