The generation of descriptive‐evaluative responses in scale answering behaviour: A model

Abstract

AbstractA model of subject behaviour in scale answering situations is derived, developed and illustrated empirically. The model allows for the possibility that a subject, faced with a request to describe how much of some attribute an object possesses, may internally represent either that object or some other. Additionally, it allows that he may give honest expression to his internal representation or modify so as to proffer a more ‚functional' description. Thus two basic parameters (representation and description) characterise the process whereby a response emitter (S) gives a descriptive‐evaluative response to a response elicitor (E).The parameters of the model are demonstrated by two studies using a psycho‐metrically sophisticated personality scale (Mach. V). In the first, object substitution is shown by contrasting self‐referent and other‐referent responses using a personating technique. In the second, response modification, due to favourable self‐presentation, is found to operate despite a scale‐format designed specially to eliminate such biases.Two major implications of the model are discussed: That the nature of descriptive‐evaluative responding is such as to render the construction of non‐fakeable descriptive scales impossible. That many experiments using descriptive scales are dubious tests of their stated hypotheses because there are no provisions for the control of the parameters of description and representation.