The symposium will teach participants the basics of a wide variety of quantitative methods in present use, as well as potential future directions of this burgeoning research area, guided by leading researchers and educators in autism psychiatry, genetics, imaging and behavioral-cognitive measures. Each speaker will be knowledgeable in broader aspects of this field beyond their own scientific and clinical contributions, and be excellent teachers of general audiences with diverse backgrounds. Their intentions will be, as the title indicates, two-fold: promises and pitfalls. Ethical reporting issues involving scientists, parents and individuals with the disorder, and the media, will also be addressed.