'Fine motor functioning and autistic traits. Australia, 2018.'
(AsPredicted #14280)
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1) Have any data been collected for this study already?
It's complicated. We have already collected some data but explain in Question 8 why readers may consider this a valid pre-registration nevertheless.

2) What's the main question being asked or hypothesis being tested in this study?
1. Those who score higher on a measurement of autistic traits (AQ) will show more impairment in motor function, as measured by finger tapping task, than those who do not. These effects are expected to be found in dominant hands.
2. There will be an effect of age with more impairment seen in younger than older participants in high AQ scoring individuals.
3. An exploration of potential sex differences in motor impairment and AQ scores.

3) Describe the key dependent variable(s) specifying how they will be measured.
Fine motor functioning as measured by a finger tapping task. The program recorded the number of taps of the computer space-bar in 10 second period for both dominant and non dominant hands.

4) How many and which conditions will participants be assigned to?
As project part of a larger group project participants firs complete demographic questionnaire then psychological questioners before being instructed to download program and complete experiment phase. Experiments presented in two conditions one with finger tapping first and the other with finger tapping last. allocation to condition was random.

5) Specify exactly which analyses you will conduct to examine the main question/hypothesis.
Two regression analysis will be conducted per hand, FT_score = constant + AQ + sex + age + AQ*age + AQ*sex + error.
Gender differences in reaction times using t-test, filtering out any who did not respond as male or female.


6) Describe exactly how outliers will be defined and handled, and your precise rule(s) for excluding observations.
Exclusions will only occur if results fall out of range, outside the 0-9 scale for the AQ-10, or tapping results are identified as an extreme outlier (more than 4 SD from the mean) by descriptives or plots.

7) How many observations will be collected or what will determine sample size?
No need to justify decision, but be precise about exactly how the number will be determined.
Power analysis suggested sample size of 158 participants, data collection will continue beyond this number as this project is part of a larger group project and to allow for potential exclusions.

8) Anything else you would like to pre-register?
(e.g., secondary analyses, variables collected for exploratory purposes, unusual analyses planned?)
Will include a battery of questions about illnesses and diseases, as well as drug use.
Will analyse differences between drop out and completed in demographic data and AQ scores.
Will analyse any differences in taps due to computer platform used as well as condition type.
Will analyse if difference exists in AQ scores and tapping scores for individuals who identify as having diagnosed ADHD, motor impairments, depression, anxiety.

Data collection has begun but review and analysis of data is yet to be completed.