Accepted for/Published in: Journal of Medical Internet Research
Date Submitted: Aug 25, 2020
Date Accepted: May 24, 2021
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Unique Internet search strategies of individuals with self-stated autism
ABSTRACT
Background:
While autism is often characterized in the literature by the presence of repetitive behavior, in structured decision tasks individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) were found to examine more options in a given time period than controls.
Objective:
We examined whether this investigative tendency emerges in information search via the Internet.
Methods:
In total, 3,213 search-engine users stated that they had ASD during 2019. This group’s naturally occurring responses following 1,491 unique general queries and 78 image queries were compared to with those of all other users of the search engine.
Results:
After issuing general queries individuals with self-stated ASD scanned more results than controls. Especially, the scrolled distance in the average query’s results was 45% larger for the ASD group (p < .0001, d = 0.45). This difference was larger for popular queries. Much smaller differences appeared between males and females (a 4% difference), denoting practically no moderating effect of gender. No difference between the ASD and control groups emerged for image queries, suggesting that visual load impedes the investigativeness of individuals with ASD.
Conclusions:
Individuals who self-stated that they had ASD scrutinized more general search results, but not more image search results. Thus, at least partially the result support the notion that individuals with ASD exhibit investigative behavior and suggest that textual searches are an important avenue where this tendency is expressed.
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