Investigating age differences effect on emotion detection for the over and under forties using Baron Cohen's “Eyes Test” (Baron-Cohen, Wheelwright & Hill, 2001)
Abstract:
This research focuses on the area of emotion detection in psychology. Independent variables being tested is the participants’ age [over and under 40 years of age]. Dependent variables being tested is participants’ scores in the eyes test. Participants were picked from a convenience sample with a large sum selected from adults attending Buckingham University Previous research suggests that there is a steady decline in emotion detection from a young age into elderly age. The key prediction is that under 40s will score better on the eyes test revised for adults than the over 40s. Results yielded no difference in emotion detection via the eyes test revised for adults between the over and under 40s.

Introduction:
Theory of mind, which is the ability to relate independent mental states to self and others to predict and or explain behavior, has long been researched since 1983 by Wimmer and Perner (1983). Since then their methods have been improved and altered in order to better understand theory of mind. Initially Baron–Cohen and colleagues (1985) simplified the test procedure from Wimmer’s (1983) research, then once more in 2001 where issues with data collection, number of items and responses in the test were all addressed. The revised eyes test for adults consisted of each participant identifying the gender and emotion description from photos of eyes, depending on which group they were in. Baron–Cohen (2001) tested four different groups, the first consisting of adults with Asperger’s syndrome and highly functioning autism. The second consisting of neuro-typical adults, and the third consisting of neuro-typical adult students studying at undergraduate degree level at Cambridge University. Finally