Level of proficiency and multidimensional viewpoints about problem similarity

Some Determinants of Multidimensional Points of View: Two Studies

Two studies are reported bearing on the relationship of multidimensional points-of-view to cognitive perceptual style and complex decision-making performance. In Study I, 31 Ss scaled two sets of stimuli. Factor loadings from a points-of-view analysis were correlated with scores from 8 cognitive perceptual style measures. Sufficient significant correlations were found to warrant a more extensive study. In Study II, 120 Ss scaled 12 problem maps after solving the problems. Each S was also administered the measures used in Study I. The scaling data were subjected to a points-of-view analysis and related to the solution and style data by a stepwise multiple regression procedure. Results indicated that: (1) multidimensional points of view are related to style data; (2) points of view are also related to complex decision-making performance; and (3) some of the previously reported style groups break down into sub-groups.

Cross-Cultural Aspects of Passionate Love

Recent work has suggested that passionate love may be conceived of within cultures as an emic that may consist of several dimensions. This study explored the factor dimensionality and cultural relativity of passionate love using the Passionate Love Scale (PLS) with data from 9 samples from North America, Europe, the Middle East, and a Pacific Island and analyzed with 3 Mode Factor Analysis with Point-of-View solutions (3M-POV). A 6-factor group-common structure was found to best explain variance in PLS responses collapsed across cultures. 3M-POV hierarchical clustering procedures yielded 6 idealized cultures separated by gender. Principal component analysis of PLS responses by idealized culture groups revealed unique factor structures for each of these groups. These results suggest passionate love to be a multifactorial construct uniquely defined within cultures.

Multiple Regression Analysis of Complex Judgments

An experiment dealing with behavior within a complex decision situation is described. The independent variables were level of information and instructional set. Two levels of information differed in terms of the number of attributes used to describe the stimuli, while two sets of instructions differed with respect to the presence or absence of a rule regarding the processing of the information. Data were analyzed in terms of the Judgment Analysis technique. Both consistency of judgments and the nature of policies were significantly affected by the level of information and instructional set. Utilization of amount of information was affected only by level of information. The Judgment Analysis technique proved successful as an aid in analyzing judgments within the complex decision situation.

Multidimensional Scaling of Perceived Interests of Three Student Stereotypes

This study was designed to assess the underlying structure of the perception of three hypothetical university-campus stereotypes in terms of their interests in a sample of academic subject matter taken from a course in introductory psychology. Stimuli, 3 of which involved the interests of the hypothetical students and 7 involving the sample of academic interests, were rated in terms of similarity. 3 dimensions, accounting for the majority of variance, were extracted. The first 2 were tentatively designated as “applied-pure” and “theoretical-experimental.” The third seemed specific to interest areas of personality and developmental psychology.