A study of factors associated with selective response patterns on the semantic differential scale

The semantic differential technique can be employed by the.sociologist as an attitudinal measure or as a method for acquiring information concerning the emotionally laden areas of social life, The technique, however, requires refinement before being adopted in sociological research. It must first be examined in order to determine if such factors as age, educational level, and sex influence responses on the technique. The present study had such an objective; to ascertain if such factors do indeed influence the tendency to select extreme or polar responses. However, the major aim of the present study was to determine if response selections on the semantic differential support the homogeneity to heterogeneity (undifferentiated to differentiated) shift in psychic structure proposed in the theoretical perspectives of Lewin, Werner and Kaplan, and Piaget. Data for the present study were obtained from 305 interviews conducted in Roanoke, Virginia. These data revealed that as age increases, there.is a decrease in the tendency to select extreme responses on the semantic differential technique. This finding lends support to the theoretical perspectives of Lewin, Werner and Kaplan, and Piaget. It was also discovered.that there is no significant relationship between educational level and polarity of responses on the semantic differential. Furthermore, there existed no difference in the tendency to select extreme or polar responses between the sexes. These findings lend support to the theoretical perspectives of Lewin, Werner and Kaplan, and Piaget as well as provide further insight into factors which could possibly effect extremeness of responses on the semantic differential technique, This finding lends support to the theoretical perspectives of Lewin, Werner and Kaplan, and PiageL It was also discovered.that there is no significant relationship between educational level and polarity of responses on the semantic differential. Furthermore, there existed no difference in the tendency to select extreme or polar responses between the sexes. These findings lend support to the theoretical perspectives of Lewin, Werner and Kaplan, and Piaget as well as provide further insight into factors which could possibly effect extremeness of responses on the semantic differential technique.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Sociology

Department dc:contributor.department

Sociology

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Year dc:date.issued

1971

Author dc:creator

• Beasley, John Julius

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10919/71067

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/71067