Individual Differences Scaling Analysis Research Articles

Estimating and interpreting more than two consensus components in projective mapping: INDSCAL vs. multiple factor analysis (MFA)

In this paper a general framework is proposed for understanding and analysing more than two consensus components in projective mapping (also known as Napping®) studies. Focus is on how two models, multiple factor analysis (MFA) and individual differences scaling (INDSCAL) based on the weighted Euclidean model (WEM), relate to each other and to the general framework. The stability of the consensus configurations of both methods are compared. The relations between the results of the two methods are investigated using the RV coefficient and an alternative index called SMI which gives equal weight to the axes regardless of the relative size of the singular values. The methods are tested and compared using three datasets and simulations.

Relationship Between Consonant Recognition in Noise and Hearing Threshold

Although poorer understanding of speech in noise by listeners who are hearing-impaired (HI) is known not to be directly related to audiometric hearing threshold, HT (f), grouping HI listeners with HT (f) is widely practiced. In this article, the relationship between consonant recognition and HT (f) is considered over a range of signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). Confusion matrices (CMs) from 25 HI ears were generated in response to 16 consonant-vowel syllables presented at 6 different SNRs. Individual differences scaling (INDSCAL) was applied to both feature-based matrices and CMs in order to evaluate the relationship between HT (f) and consonant recognition among HI listeners. The results showed no predictive relationship between the percent error scores (Pe) and HT (f) across SNRs. The multiple regression models showed that the HT (f) accounted for 39% of the total variance of the slopes of the Pe. Feature-based INDSCAL analysis showed consistent grouping of listeners across SNRs, but not in terms of HT (f). Systematic relationship between measures was also not defined by CM-based INDSCAL analysis across SNRs. HT (f) did not account for the majority of the variance (39%) in consonant recognition in noise when the complete body of the CM was considered.

Concepts Associated with the ‘True and Fair View’: Evidence from Singapore

This study investigated the differential perceptions of the ‘true and fair view’ among accountants, bank officers and managers in Singapore and examined whether ‘true and fair’ was perceived to mean compliance with GAAP and compliance with legal requirements. The survey questionnaire required respondents to evaluate simultaneously 12 phrases (including the ‘true and fair view’) using the card-sorting technique. The questionnaire was given to 300 accountants, 100 bank officers and 200 managers, yielding response rates of 73%, 64% and 81.5% respectively, and 74.33% (or 446) overall. Descriptive statistics, individual differences scaling analysis (INDSCAL) and cluster analysis were performed to analyse the data. The results showed that perceptions of the true and fair view did not differ significantly across the three groups. Further, ‘true and fair’ was clearly distinguished from compliance with GAAP and/or legal requirements. Instead, it was grouped with ‘not misleading’, ‘absence of material errors’ and ‘objective and free from bias’.

Instrumental or emotional evaluations: What determines preferences?

The present study investigated the separability of two evaluative aspects, instrumental and emotional utilities, and tested the hypothesis that situational context influences the relative impact of these evaluations in decision making. Twenty-nine subjects rank ordered eight options according to their preferences. The options were hypothetical prizes the subjects could win, either in a mail lottery (private context) or in a TV show (public context). Subjects rated all options on utility scales and indicated their emotional associations. It was hypothesized that in the private context condition subjects' preferences were more influenced by emotions, whereas due to justification demands, preferences were more influenced by instrumental considerations in the public context condition. A multidimensional preference analysis yielded two dimensions. The second of these dimensions distinguished between experimental conditions. An individual differences scaling analysis yielded significantly higher subject weights for the second dimension in the public context group. The first dimension could be interpreted as mapping positive versus negative emotions, whereas the second dimension reflected instrumental evaluations. Regression analyses indicate that both instrumental and emotional evaluations significantly contribute in predicting preferences, but that the relation between preferences and evaluative dimensions is only indirect.

A study on coaches of group sports

The cognitive structures on the 15 positons of rugby football by the coaches were analyzed by INDSCAL (Individual Differences Scaling). The coaches of WASEDA university rugby football club (N=17) served as subjects. The results of INDSCAL analysis were interpreted as follows: 1) dimentsion of formation, 2) dimension of tactics. It will be very important to take these dimensions into consideration in investigation of the positions of rugby football. Especially, the second dimension will require careful discussion in inquiry of coach guidance contents, because the second one will be more important in actual matches of rugby football.In addition, the 17 coaches were divided into 3 clusters by the weights of INDSCAL subject space, applying hierarchical cluster analysis. These clusters were discussed by taking into consideration the coaches' positions that they had played as an active member of the team, their rugby careers and roles that should be carried out as members of the coaching staff, etc.It was indicated that coaches' cognitive structures on rugby football positions would be influenced by their positions and roles within the coaching staff.

The dimensions of sexual harassment: A structural analysis

Despite the growing attention devoted to the topic of sexual harassment in the vocational behavior literature, little formal theory has emerged, and, in fact, basic definitional issues remain unresolved. In the present study, 28 subjects completed 200 paired comparisons of situations describing sexual harassment in a university setting, and rated their degree of similarity on a 7-point bipolar scale. In addition, subjects rated the situations on the degree of severity, type of harassment (quid pro quo vs conditions of work) and form of coercion (psychological vs physical). The results of nonmetric multidimensional scaling analysis, supported by a complete link-cluster analysis and a vector-fitting procedure, suggest that the continuum of severity model is an oversimplification, and that at least two dimensions are required to adequately account for the data. The results of an individual differences scaling analysis are also reported and discussed in context of the differing roles played by the two sexes in interactions such as the ones examined in the present study.

Consonant recognition and confusion patterns among elderly hearing-impaired subjects.

This study investigated whether unique consonant recognition and confusion patterns are associated with hearing loss among elderly listeners. Subjects were all greater than 65 years, and had normal hearing, or gradually or sharply sloping sensorineural hearing losses. Recognition of 19 consonants, paired with each of three vowels in a CV format, was assessed at two speech levels in a background of babble (+6 dB signal-to-babble ratio). Analyses of percent correct scores for overall nonsense syllable performance and for consonants according to place, manner, and voicing categories generally revealed better performance by the normal-hearing subjects than by the hearing-impaired subjects. However, individual differences scaling analysis of consonant confusions failed to retrieve speech perception patterns that were unique to listener group. These results tentatively suggest that the presence and configuration of hearing loss among elderly listeners may affect the level of performance but not the specific pattern of performance.

Dissimilarity scaling and INDSCAL analysis in the study of flavour differences between normal pHu and DFD beef

AbstractOverall dissimilarity measurement of paired stimuli followed by Individual Differences Scaling (INDSCAL) analysis was used to study flavour perception in a set of beef extracts. The experiment was designed to determine whether pH contributed to flavour difference between beef of “normal” ultimate pH (pHu5.8) and “dark‐cutting” (DFD) beef (pHu6.2). Assessors distinguished the flavour of “normal” pHu and DFD beef both by a combination of pH and titratable acidity, and a second dimension independent of pH. The chemicals added to adjust pH independently of the original muscle composition contributed a third flavour dimension. Substantial assessor variation was observed in the relative weight given to the three flavour dimensions, and this is discussed in relation to the task of judging overall dissimilarity.