For three samples, chronic schizophrenics, acute schizophrenics, and normals, scores on several MMPI response set scales were compared, and were correlated with several indices of responding to ambiguous stimuli. Two findings emerged. (1) There were differences at or above a borderline level of significance only on two out of five response set measures, and (2) the relationship between response set scores and the various measures of responding to ambiguity was, on the whole, slight. With certain limitations, the conclusion is offered that response to ambiguous materials reflects perceptual and cognitive, rather than response, style tendencies.
References
1.
CouchA., & KenistonK.Yeasayers and naysayers: agreeing response set as a personality variable. J. abnorm. soc. Psychol., 1960, 60, 151–174.
2.
CronbachL. J.Further evidence on response sets and test design. Educ. psychol., Measmt, 1950, 10, 3–31.
3.
DragunsJ. G.Responses to perceptual and cognitive ambiguity in schizophrenic and institutionalized non-psychotic subjects. Paper read at American Psychological Association, St. Louis, August, 1962.
4.
DragunsJ. G.Responses to cognitive and perceptual ambiguity in chronic and acute schizophrenics. J. abnorm. soc. Psychol., 1963, 66, 24–30.
5.
EdwardsA. L.The social desirability variable in personality assessment and research.New York: Dryden, 1957.
6.
Frenkel-BrunswikE.Intolerance of ambiguity as an emotional and perceptual personality variable. J. Pars., 1949, 18, 104–141.
7.
FrickeB. G.A response bias (B) scale for the MMPI. J. counsel. Psychol., 1957, 4, 149–153.
8.
FulkersonS. C.An acquiescence key for the MMPI. USAF Sch. Aviat. Med. Rep., 1958, No. 58-71.
9.
HanleyC.Deriving a measure of test-taking defensiveness. J. consult. Psychol., 1957, 21, 391–397.
10.
JacksonD. N., & MessickS.Style and content in personality assessment. Psychol. Bull., 1958, 55, 243–252.
11.
JacksonD. N., & MessickS.Response styles on the MMPI: comparison of clinical and normal samples. J. abnorm. soc. Psychol., 1962, 65, 285–299.
12.
LittleK. B., & FisherJ.Two new experimental scales on the MMPI. J. consult. Psychol., 1958, 22, 305–306.
13.
McGheeR. K.Response style as a personality variable: by what criterion. Psychol. Bull., 1962, 59, 284–295.
14.
SolomonL., & KleinE.A comparison of response set tendencies in a normal and schizophrenic sample. Paper read at the Eastern Psychological Association, Philadelphia, April, 1961.
15.
WigginsJ. S.Strategic, method, and stylistic variance in the MMPI. Psychol. Bull., 1962, 59, 224–242.
