Hardly Ever or Constantly? Group Comparisons Using Vague Quantifier

Abstract

Investigations of vague quantifiers-phrases like very often, which express frequency in relative terms-have left the consequences of analyzing absolute or relative responses largely unexplored. This paper examines whether the choice of relative or absolute frequencies affects comparisons by race, sex, education, and age and the meaning of relative-frequency and relative-intensity phrases for these groups. Items analyzed are the frequency of excitement and boredom (using a 1975 national probability sample of households with quotas, N = 1,172). Conclusions about race differences in excitement and boredom differ for absolute and relative frequencies. There are significant differences by race, education, and age in the meaning of phrases conveying relative frequency: such phrases stand for higher absolute frequencies for whites, for better educated, and for younger respondents.