List date(s) this work was published or aired.
30-Jul-12
Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
Some studies have suggested that people with autism have deficits in executive function — a set of complex mental processes involved in everyday life. But these results may instead reflect their difficulties imagining what other people are thinking, according to a provocative new hypothesis.
Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
Several scientific papers were used, and two posters presented at scientific conferences. All scientific sources are referenced or linked in the article. FOI or public records act requests were not used as part of the reporting process.
Explain types of human sources used.
Interviews with scientists quoted in the article: Sarah White (Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London); Paul Burgess (professor of psychology, University College London, and head of executive function group, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience); Helen Tager-Flusberg (professor of psychology, Boston University); Shawn Christ (assistant professor of psychology, University of Missouri).
Results:
N/A
Follow-up (if any). Have you run a correction or clarification on the report or has anyone come forward to challenge its accuracy? If so, please explain.
No, there has been no correction/clarification, and the accuracy of the article has not been challenged.
Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
Some science stories are primarily about experimental results, but this one is more about the interpretation of results — how scientists make sense of a large body of sometimes conflicting evidence. Even so, a reader needs specific examples and anecdotes to grab on to in order to understand the larger story about interpretation. I found that with this type of story, it took an extra round or two of asking in order to get the scientists to offer up those anecdotes, which can leave a reporter feeling uncomfortably pedantic. My advice would be to persevere with semi-doltish questions, because those anecdotes are worth it in the end.