Comparison of the Miner Sentence Completion Scale and the Ghiselli Self-Description Index

Abstract

In a recent article Miner ( 6 ) challenged findings ( 2 ) which questioned the construct validity of the Miner Sentence Completion Scale (4, 5 ) . This scale is designed to measure role-behavior characteristic of successful business executives while Ghiselli's Self-description Index ( 3 ) measures the abilities and of successful managers. One assertion ( 2 ) was that failure of Miner's scale to establish convergence with Ghiselli's instrument means it lacks construct validity. Miner's response correctly points out that of Ghiselli's 13 measures, Ghiselli found only 6 distinguished successful managers and he presents data which indicate scores on the sentence completions correlate significantly with three: .1G. Supervisory ability, .1G Self-assurance (ps < . l o ) , and .27 Decisiveness ( P < .01). The present research continues earlier work ( 1 ) with 14 female college students in a senior-level elective class, The Successful Female Manager. These students significantly changed from preto posttest in positive acceptance of the role behavior postulated in Miner's scale. The new data show several significant rhos ( 7 ) : .42 Need for occupational achievement, .40 Intelligence, .47 Self-actualization (ps < . lo) . However, the significant rhos are opposite those found by Miner. Of particular concern is the lack of congruence between the studies of Ghiselli's measure, Supervisory ability, which Ghiselli finds has a unique position with respect to managerial talent. It is the trait which plays the most important role, stands out clearly and is apart from all of the other traits (3, p. 77 ) . That the present correlations are different from those of the Miner study suggests that there may be no compatibility between the two scales. Some possible explanations of the apparent disparity may include the present small sample of 12 versus 110 in Miner's study or differential responding by the smaller sample of only females and the larger sample of males and females. Perhaps both scales measure different aspects of managerial success or Ghiselli's scale attempts to accomplish too much with a limited response set which results in low reliabilities. Until further research demonstrates that both scales measure the same variables the issues are unresolved.