Semantic Differential Analysis Research Articles

Образ идеального ученого у современной российской молодежи

Introduction. Studying the image of an ideal scientist among modern young Russians is important for understanding their professional preferences and desire to engage in scientific activities in modern conditions of science. The research concentrates on structural and substantial characteristics of the image of a scientist among students and working young people, and also their factors.
 Materials and Methods.The stages of the research included methods of semantic differential, laboratory experiment, and factor analysis.
 Results. The main stage of the research made it possible to construct the semantic space reflecting the characteristics of the images of an ideal scientist and various cinematographic images of scientists among students and working young people. The image of an ideal scientist had cognitive (ability to formulate problems and express ideas, tolerance for uncertainty, and the discipline of thinking) and personal (purposefulness, resoluteness, adherence to principle, focus on results, high working capacity, versatility, originality, rich imagination) qualities.
 Discussion. The students for whom the assimilation of scientific knowledge is the basis for educational activities construct the image of a scientist being guided by their knowledge about real scientists and the idea about scientific activity as a thinking and intellectual work. Assessing cinematographic images reflects this. Working young people have a lack of scientific research in the content of professional activity; they are estranged from scientific reality and suffer from a lack of objective information. Thus, working young people construct the image of a scientist on the basis of their representations about scientists and also cinematographic images, reflecting stereotypes of scientists (often through demonstrating the tools of scientific work). This testifies to the simplification of the image of a scientist among working young people.
 Substantial characteristics of the image of an ideal scientist are analogous among working and studying young people. However, the image forming foundation differs in the two studied groups.

A semantic differential analysis of prospective feelings about pregnancy and retrospective characterization of pregnancy

Objectives: This study’s objective was to explore young Latinos’ prospective and retrospective feelings about and descriptions of pregnancy. To do so, we used semantic differential analysis, an approach for quantifying connotative meaning of words or phrases.

The Characteristics of Food Profile Values in Modified Semantic Differential Analysis

The Characteristics of Food Profile Values in Modified Semantic Differential Analysis

Japanese History of the Psychology of Fine Arts and Aesthetics

AbstractIn this paper we discuss the history of Japanese psychology of fine arts and aesthetics across five distinct periods: (a) the first expansion of arts psychology research (1907–1932); (b) children's drawings and Gestalt psychology (approximately 1932–1947); (c) the second expansion of arts psychology research, the psychoanalysis of art and art as a target for Gestalt and social psychology (1948–1967); (d) art therapy and the psychology of aesthetics using the semantic differential method and factor analysis (approximately 1968–1996); and (e) the third expansion of arts psychology research, Kansei and neuroaesthetics (1996–). Japanese arts psychology has been altered by the reformation of the discipline, and by the implementation of new methods and theories from overseas. The research targets, such as traditional arts (calligraphy, rock gardens, etc.) and pop culture (“Kawaii,” “Hello Kitty,” etc.), have appeared as Japanese original contributions to the psychology of the arts.

Development of Indicators for the Soundscape in Urban Shopping Streets

This paper aims to find a series of objective indicators that can fully describe the soundscapes of urban shopping streets. The perceptual and physical features of soundscapes in urban shopping streets have been investigated via field surveys and a laboratory study. Using the semantic differential method, the perception structure of shopping street soundscapes was initially analysed, and five major perceptual factors were identified that explained 64% of the total sample variance, including preference, loudness, communication, playfulness and richness. Each perceptual factor explained approximately 10% to 15% of the total variance, which showed that they shared very similar importance in the representation of the overall soundscapes in urban shopping streets. Based on this semantic differential analysis, a laboratory study was performed to investigate the relationship between perceptual factors and physical indicators. Sound levels and psychoacoustic indicators were initially considered to be the most common indicators. The results showed that there were significant correlations between these indicators and three perceptual factors, including preference, loudness and communication. A new indicator (dynamic spectrum centre or DSC) was then developed in this study based on the concepts of spectrum gravity centre analysis and temporal variety analysis. This indicator combined spectral and temporal analysis to describe the contents of background sounds and sound events. The DSC indicator was found to have a significant correlation with the other two perceptual factors (playfulness and richness). Increasing the variability of the sound event (a higher standard deviation of DSC_E) could make soundscape more playful and richer.

Psychophysiological Effects of Orchid and Rose Fragrances on Humans

This study aimed to determine the effects of floral fragrances on human brain waves and moods. A total of 44 subjects participated in this experiment. Group 1 consisted of 11 male and 14 female college students with a mean age of 24.5 years (± 2.23) and Group 2 consisted of 10 males and 9 females with a mean age of 54.3 years (± 2.98). Subjects were exposed to floral fragrances of Rosa hybrida , ‘Hera’ (hereafter referred to as “rose”), Cymbidium faberi(hereafter referred to as “orchid”), or odorless control flowers (hereafter referred to as “control”). Experiments took place in three rooms (rose, orchid, and control). Electroencephalographs (EEGs) were recorded during exposure to the odors and the data were processed using quantitative electroencephalographic (QEEG) techniques. The changing EEG patterns wereanalyzed by brain mapping and compressed spectral arrays, and the subjects’ preferences (hedonic evaluations) were quantified with an A1 index. Increased activation of absolute alpha waves was verified on six of the eight EEG channels, with the right frontal and left occipital lobes exhibiting no changes and the left parietal region showing the greatest activation. According to the QEEG measurements in the electrode sites over the frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital lobes, the strongest absolute alpha waves were induced in the parietal lobes, followed by the temporal lobes, with the other lobes showing no significant changes. On brain maps, the orchid fragrance induced greater absolute alpha and absolute mid-beta activities compared with the rose and control fragrances, and the rose fragrance induced high absolute mid-beta activation. To identify emotional responses to floral fragrances, the subjects were requested to fill in a questionnaire and the resulting odor-related emotional descriptors were analyzed using semantic differential and factor analysis. Principal component analysis identified “elegant” as the first principal component describing the floral fragrance, followed by “refreshing” and “aromatic.” The subjects gave orchid higher scores for “elegant” and “refreshing,” while finding rose more “aromatic.” Differences in hedonic evaluation revealed by the A1 index appeared in the 65-115 sec range of scent exposure time. The subjects with ages of around 50 years showed olfactory preferences throughout the entire experimental time of 160 sec, most markedly in the later time segment (115-165 sec), showing an increasing preference with increasing exposure time. We conclude that rose fragrance can improve concentration by creating an aromatic environment conducive to a concentrated and calm state of mind, and orchid fragrance can make people feel pampered and relaxed by creating an elegant and refreshing environment.

Development of a Bone-Conducted Ultrasonic Hearing Aid for the Profoundly Deaf: Evaluation of Sound Quality Using a Semantic Differential Method

Bone-conducted ultrasound (BCU) is perceived even by the profoundly sensorineural deaf. A novel hearing aid using the perception of amplitude-modulated BCU (BCU hearing aid: BCUHA) has been developed. However, there is room for improvement particularly in terms of sound quality. BCU speech is accompanied by a strong high-pitched tone and contain some distortion. In this study, the sound quality of BCU speech with several types of amplitude modulation [double-sideband with transmitted carrier (DSB-TC), double-sideband with suppressed carrier (DSB-SC), and transposed modulations] and air-conducted (AC) speech was quantitatively evaluated using semantic differential and factor analysis. The results showed that all the types of BCU speech had higher metallic and lower esthetic factor scores than AC speech. On the other hand, transposed speech was closer than the other types of BCU speech to AC speech generally; the transposed speech showed a higher powerfulness factor score than the other types of BCU speech and a higher esthetic factor score than DSB-SC speech. These results provide useful information for further development of the BCUHA.

Heuristics diagrams as a tool to formatively assess teachers’ research

Many teacher education programs include different forms of teachers doing research. Be it in the form of action research or general inquiries about their practice, it has been argued that when teachers do research on their own practice, they are able to take a more reflective stance towards their work which is necessary to bring about educational change. However, it is hard to find tools that can be used to provide clear feedback in developing such research. In this paper, we present the results of using a heuristic tool called ‘heuristic diagram’ (HD), previously designed by the authors and based on Gowin’s heuristic Vee, to formatively assess in-service teachers’ research skills. Two different groups of science and mathematics in-service teachers in a Research Methods Course completed four different HD about their research project throughout the semester. We performed a general analysis based on a scoring rubric of these HD in order to show how teachers’ research skills were developed throughout the course. Teachers also evaluated their experience of using the HD through a semantic differential analysis and answered an open questionnaire about the advantages and difficulties of using such tool. Overall, the HD seems to be useful to formatively assess research skills because it allows teachers to make their theoretical framework explicit, relate it to the research question and to the methods used to answer it in an integrated and short way.

Analysis of Psychological Factors for HDTV/3-D HDTV and Evaluation Method of Their Overall Impressions

We analyze the psychological factors of high-sensation-of-reality sequences for the HDTV and stereoscopic (3-D) HDTV. We discuss the applicability of a 1-D quality grading scale, which is used in the evaluation of picture quality, to the evaluation of their overall impressions. First, HDTV and 3-D HDTV sequences were analyzed with the semantic differential technique and factor analysis. Eight psychological factors were obtained separately for each television, and it was confirmed that naturalness extracted from the 3-D HDTV sequences was closely related to the disparity. Next, we examine whether the relationship between the opinion scores obtained using a seven-grade quality scale and the factor scores could be represented by multiple regression models. Consequently, the regression model was found to be applicable to scores for the HDTV sequences and inapplicable to those for the 3-D HDTV ones. The factor scores for naturalness (sense of naturalness) obtained from the 3-D HDTV sequences were found to have strong negative correlations with the disparities between sequences for right- and left-channels.

アンケート調査およびSD法によるバラの花型および花色のイメージ分類

アンケート調査およびSD法によるバラの花型および花色のイメージ分類

Semantic Differential Analysis of the Soundscape in Urban Park

In this study, soundscape was analyzed through physical measurement and social surveys. The results showed that, soundscape components were related to functional partitions and tourist activities, at the same time influenced by ambient noise. The sound pressure levels showed daily regular changes. Semantic differential analysis showed that the evaluation of the soundscape in urban park was rather complicated. It was still possible to identify major factors including relaxation, spatiality and environment. The results provided theoretical basis for improving urban park soundscape, and called attention to this problem.

Auditor independence

PurposeThe purpose of the paper is to examine the extent to which there is shared meaning of the concept of auditor independence between the three major groups of parties on the demand and supply sides of the audit services market – auditors, financial report preparers and financial report users.Design/methodology/approachThe paper utilises the measurement of meaning framework (semantic differential analysis) originally proposed by Osgood et al. in 1957. The framework is used to investigate the extent to which there is shared meaning (agreement in interpretations) of the independence concept, in response to alternative audit engagement case contexts, between key parties to the financial reporting communication process. The study's research data was collected in the period March 2004‐May 2005.FindingsFindings indicate a robust and stable single‐factor cognitive structure within which the research participants interpret the connotative meaning of the auditor independence concept. An analysis of the experimental cases finds similarities in connotations (interpretations) of an audit firm's independence for the participant groups for most cases, with the exception of cases involving the joint provision of audit and non‐audit (taxation) services.Research limitations/implicationsThe usual external validity threat that applies to experimental research generally applies to the study. That is, the results may not be generalisable to settings beyond those examined in the study. An important implication of the study is that it emphasises the continuing problematic nature of the joint provision of audit and non‐audit services, even in situations where the non‐audit services comprise only traditional taxation services.Originality/valueThe study is the first to examine the concept of auditor independence by means of the Osgood et al. measurement of meaning research framework using, as research participants, the three major groups on the demand and supply sides of the audit services market.

Human alteration of the rural landscape: Variations in visual perception

The objective of this investigation is to evaluate how visual perception varies as the rural landscape is altered by human interventions of varying character. An experiment is carried out using Semantic Differential Analysis to analyse the effect of the character and the type of the intervention on perception. Interventions are divided into elements of “ permanent industrial character”, “ elements of permanent rural character” and “ elements of temporary character”, and these categories are sub-divided into smaller groups according to the type of development. To increase the reliability of the results, the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient tool, is applied to validate the semantic space of the perceptual responses and to determine the number of subjects required for a reliable evaluation of the scenes.

Noetics in pastoral counselling: The making of a semantic differential analysis in pastoral care and counselling

Praxis in pastoral care and counselling entails more than merely practice and practicalities (communication skills). Praxis refers to the intentionality within human action and behaviour. Praxis exhibits the realm of intentionality and meaning as displayed within and by human attitudes. It is hypothesised that due to the noetic dimension in human actions, the making of a pastoral diagnosis (a qualitative assessment of the impact of Christian spirituality and the meaning on the system of existential, relational networking) should deal with the realm of significant and purposeful intentionality. The latter is already implied in the phenomenological approach of Edmund Husserl�s eidetic observation or inspection (phenomenological consciousness). In order to incorporate noetics in pastoral care and counselling, a pastoral semantic differential analysis (PSDA) within the making of a pastoral diagnosis was proposed. The PSDA was linked to the need for a qualitative approach regarding the impact of Godimages on religious association and existential life experiences.

Paradoxical Effects of the Disclosure of Conflict of Interest on the Selection of a Pension Plan

Rules requiring the disclosure of conflicts of interest are often established to reduce information asymmetries and so protect consumers from biased information. We report on an experimental study assessing the effect of disclosure by an agent of his earnings for two savings plans -- a pension plan and an executive insurance savings plan. A semantic differential analysis brought out the dimensions along which the two products differ, and suggests why disclosure has no effect for most of the public, and has an excessive impact on the more financially literate segment of the population. In the situation studied, fair disclosure of conflict of interest, even of the boldest kind, do not always help the consumer.

Quest for Better Technology: Case of Brown Coir Fibre Industry in Sri Lanka

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of a number of attributes (a = 23) upon 5 major factors (Labor, Land and Capital, Machine, Technical and Market) that influence a selection of a particular technology to manufacture brown coir fibre in Sri Lanka (i.e. Sri Lankan Drum Pairs, Defibering Machine, D1 Machine). A cross section of owners of fibre mills (n = 30) located in the Kurunegaka, Puttlam and Gampaha districts were selected and a personal interview with each mill owner was carried out with the help of a structured questionnaire from May to June 2008 to collect data. The Semantic Differential Analysis techniques were employed to find the relative strength of the attributes of 5 factors considered in the analysis, where the responses were recorded on a seven-point bipolar scale. The “XLStat” software was used extensively to plot the relationships between the 23 attributes and 3 technologies.
 The results suggest that all three technologies are negatively perceived by the coir fibre millers on land and capital, and machine subsets. Further millers had negative perception on attributes related to labor subset of Sri Lankan Drum Pair technology. However, they hold the view that high quality of the bristle fibre extracted by this machine is not comparable with that extracted using any other technologies. The millers’ perception on technical and market attributes of the three different technologies was better than on other attributes.
 The results imply that policymakers should, more specifically, take into account the issues related to capital, machine and labor as they advise coir fibre manufactures about possible technology transfer, in order to avoid potential failures in these markets (i.e. plant-exit) and government policy (i.e. non-compliance).

Semantic differential analysis of the soundscape in urban open public spaces

The main objective of this research was to identify factors that characterise the soundscape in urban open public spaces. The research was carried out through a series of field surveys. Stage one, as a pilot study, was a soundscape walk with 48 students in four typical urban open public spaces in Sheffield. Stage two was a detailed soundscape evaluation in two of the sites, with a total sample size of 491 from the general public. Stage three examined the soundscape evaluation by designers, with 223 architectural students. Semantic differential analysis of the results shows that although the description and evaluation of the soundscape in urban open public spaces is rather complicated, it is still possible to identify major factors which include relaxation, communication, spatiality and dynamics. In terms of the general soundscape evaluation, differences between sound level and acoustic comfort evaluation, sound preferences, and effects of demographic factors are briefly discussed. Compared to the general public, designers have stronger preferences to natural sounds and green spaces, and there is also more diversity in their evaluation.

Customer perception of switch-feel in luxury sports utility vehicles

Successful new product introduction requires that product characteristics relate to the customer on functional, emotional, aesthetic and cultural levels. As a part of research into automotive human machine interfaces (HMI), this paper describes holistic customer research carried out to investigate how the haptics of switches in luxury sports utility vehicles (SUVs) are perceived by customers. The application of these techniques, including an initial proposal for objective specifications, is addressed within the broader new product introduction context, and benefits described. One-hundred and one customers of SUVs assessed the feel of automotive push switches, completing the tasks both in, and out of vehicles to investigate the effect of context. Using the semantic differential technique, hedonic testing, and content analysis of customers’ verbatim comments, a holistic picture has been built up of what influences the haptic experience. It was found that customers were able to partially discriminate differences in switch-feel, alongside considerations of visual appearance, image, and usability. Three factors named ‘Affective’, ‘Robustness and Precision’, and ‘Silkiness’ explained 61% of the variance in a principle components analysis. Correlations of the factors with acceptance scores were 0.505, 0.371, and 0.168, respectively.

Patterns of tacit knowledge based on ethnography in product design

From industrial design,an approach of ethnography is proposed to study users' and designers' patterns of tacit knowledge in product design.The concepts of ethnography are introduced and the relation between ethnography and product design is explored. Taken the existed portable media center form design as an example,semantic differential,image scale and conjoint analysis etc are employed to investigate the acquiring and representing of users' and designers' tacit knowledge.The two-dimensional perceptual image spaces of the portable media center form are established,and the tacit knowledge patterns are presented.The results show that many differences exist between users' and designers' tacit knowledge representation of the same objects and their interpretations of the same image-words,and it is necessary to adopt user-centered method to study users' tacit knowledge and find out the common- ness and individualities during the product design process.

351 ペットボトルの形状モデルに関する感性工学的研究

Drink bottle shapes are considered in this study from the viewpoint of Kansei engineering. Nine different bottle models, that imitate PET bottles widely used for soft drinks, were fabricated and are used in the test. The impressions over the bottle model surfaces are targeted by surveying and collecting human reactions on the twelve sets of word (adjective) pairs from examinees. After applying some statistical treatments, such as the semantic differential and factor analysis methods, the general tendency of human emotional reactions to the bottle shapes are discussed.