Script Author: Katja Borchert, Ph.D. (katjab@millisecond.com), Millisecond
Created: June 05, 2026
Last Modified: June 05, 2026 by K. Borchert (katjab@millisecond.com), Millisecond
Script Copyright © Millisecond Software, LLC
This script implements the Adult Theory of Mind Test - Quick version (AToM-Q) by Brewer et al (2022) to study interpretations of others' beliefs, emotions and intentions ('Theory of Mind') using video scenarios of (scripted) real-life interactions.
The AToM-Q is based on the original AToM by Brewer et al (2017) who used these scenarios to study Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in adults. Whereas the AToM uses openended questions that require a trained administer to score the responses, the AToM-Q uses a multiple choice format that is scored automatically.
Brewer N, Young RL, Norris JE, Maras K, Michael Z, Barnett E. (2022). A Quick Measure of Theory of Mind in Autistic Adults: Decision Accuracy, Latency and Self-Awareness. J Autism Dev Disord. 2022 Jun;52(6):2479-2496. doi: 10.1007/s10803-021-05166-7. Epub 2021 Jun 28. PMID: 34184140; PMCID: PMC9114060.
Brewer, N., Young, R. L., & Barnett, E. (2017). Measuring Theory of Mind in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 47(7), 1927–1941. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-017-3080-x
Livingston, L. A., Shah, P., & Happé, F. (2024). Linearly integrating speed and accuracy to measure individual differences in theory of mind: Evidence from autistic and neurotypical adults. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 77(2), 332–347. doi.org
15 minutes
Participants view 12 videos of interactions btw. people. Six of the videos require participants to make social-cognitive inferences and six (control) videos require a more 'physical' interpretation of the scene. The order of the 12 videos is randomized.
At the end of each video, participants get to answer one question with 4 response options. One of the options is correct, one is partially correct and two response options are incorrect. The order of the response options is randomly determined for each question. The selection of the correct response is awarded 1 point.
Following the response, participants assess their response confidence on a scale from 0-100%.
Participants view a randomized order of 12 videos (6 physical, 6 social).
After the videos end, they are asked to answer a question by selecting a response options
from four possible options (randomly orderd). Once selected, participants rate their confidence in their
answer from 0 (absolutely uncertain) to 100% (absolutely certain) on a slider scale.
By default, the time restriction for responding is set to 5 minutes which realistically translates into 'no
time restriction'.
The (English) movies can be publicly accessed at:
Physical Playlist Link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJCW1evzKKcuy1rGu3Ocatm97s_KpdhyI
Social Playlist Link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJCW1evzKKctzHvYfB1RADd27m8IBaWcu
(from Brewer et al, 2017)
provided by Millisecond - can be edited in script 'atom_q_instructions_inc.iqjs'
File Name: atom_summary*.iqdat
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| inquisit.version | Inquisit version number |
| computer.platform | Device platform: win | mac |ios | android |
| startdate | Date script was run |
| starttime | Time script was started |
| subjectid | Assigned subject id number |
| groupid | Assigned group id number |
| sessionid | Assigned session id number |
| elapsedtime | Time it took to run script (in ms); measured from onset to offset of script |
| completed | 0 = Test was not completed 1 = Test was completed |
| countNRSocial | Counts the number of timeout responses for Social items (if timeout was implemented) |
| countNRPhysical | Counts the number of timeout responses for Physical items (if timeout was implemented) |
| propCorrectSocial | Proportion correct responses for Social items (respCat = 1) |
| propCorrectPhysical | Proportion correct responses for Physical items (respCat = 1) |
| propCorrectPSocial | Proportion partially correct responses for Social items (respCat = 2) |
| propCorrectPPhysical | Proportion partially correct responses for Physical items (respCat = 2) |
| meanCorrRTSocial | Mean correct response time (ms) of answering Social questions |
| meanCorrRTPhysical | Mean correct response time (ms) of answering Physical questions |
| meanConfidenceSocial | Mean reported confidence in response option selection for Social questions |
| meanConfidencePhysical | Mean reported confidence in response option selection for Physical questions |
Linear Integrated Speed-Accuracy Scores (Lisas): Error-Corrected Processing Speed |
|
| lisasSocial | Error-corrected processing speed (in ms) of participant's mean correct response time to Social items |
| lisasPhysical | Error-corrected processing speed (in ms) of participant's mean correct response time to Physical items |
File Name: atom_raw*.iqdat
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| build | Inquisit version number |
| computer.platform | Device platform: win | mac |ios | android |
| computer.touch | 0 = device has no touchscreen capabilities; 1 = device has touchscreen capabilities |
| computer.hasKeyboard | 0 = no external keyboard detected; 1 = external keyboard detected |
| date | Date the session was run |
| time | Time the session was run |
| subject | Participant ID |
| group | Group number |
| session | Session number |
| blockcode | The name the current block (built-in Inquisit variable) |
| blocknum | The number of the current block (built-in Inquisit variable) |
| trialcode | The name of the currently recorded trial (built-in Inquisit variable) |
| trialnum | The number of the currently recorded trial (built-in Inquisit variable) trialnum is a built-in Inquisit variable; it counts all trials run even those that do not store data to the data file. |
| trialCounter | Tracks the number of trials run |
| phase | RespCollection (vs. video; by default the video presenting trial does not store data to the datafile) |
| selectVideo | Itemnumber of current video (0-11) |
| videoDurationMS | The duration (in ms) of the current video until the question is displayed |
| title | The video title |
| category | Physical vs. social |
| itemType | Physical: NA; social: stores the item type ("sarcasm", "misunderstanding", "faux pas", "persuasions", "white lie") |
| question | Stores the current question asked |
| option1 | Stores the current option1 response (option1 = correct response) |
| option1Pos | Stores the vertical position of the option1 response; position randomly assigned |
| option1AccCat | Assigned accuracy category to option1: 1 = correct; 2 = partially correct; 3 = incorrect |
| option2 | Stores the current option2 response (option2 = partially correct) |
| option2Pos | Stores the vertical position of the option2 response; position randomly assigned |
| option2AccCat | Assigned accuracy category to option2: 1 = correct; 2 = partially correct; 3 = incorrect |
| option3 | Stores the current option3 response (option3 = incorrect) |
| option3Pos | Stores the vertical position of the option3 response; position randomly assigned |
| option3AccCat | Assigned accuracy category to option3: 1 = correct; 2 = partially correct; 3 = incorrect |
| option4 | Stores the current option4 response (option4 = incorrect) |
| option4Pos | Stores the vertical position of the option4 response; position randomly assigned |
| option4AccCat | Assigned accuracy category to option4: 1 = correct; 2 = partially correct; 3 = incorrect |
Custom Dvs |
|
| respCat | Response category: 1 = correct; 2 = partially correct; 3 = incorrect (4 = no response, if a timeout was implemented) |
| acc | Accuracy of response button selection: 1 = correct; 0 = error |
| rt | Response button selection latency; measured from onset of trial |
| confidence | Confidence rating (0-100%) |
Built-In Dvs |
|
| response | The response of participant in the current trial |
| correct | 1 = correct; 0 = error (current trial) |
| latency | Response latency (in ms); measured from: onset of trial (current trial) |
The procedure can be adjusted by setting the following parameters.
| Name | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
Timing Parameters |
||
| responseTimeoutMS | The time (in ms) allocated for response taking Brewer et al (2022) did not specify a timeout | 3000000 |