A preliminary investigation of the role of differential complexity and response style in measuring attitudes toward people with disabilities.

Abstract

This report investigated a potentially complex relationship between cognitive complexity and attitudes towards people with disabilities in a 3-part study using two undergraduate student samples. In Study 1 (n = 126), subjects' responses to the Attitudes Toward Disabled Persons Scale (ATDP-O) were not significantly correlated with the Repertory Grid Test (RGT). This finding suggests no relationship between attitudes and a generic measure of cognitive complexity. In Study 2 (n = 57), subjects' responses to the ATDP-O were positively correlated with a disabilityspecific repertory grid technique. This finding suggests an inverse relationship between domain-specific cognitive complexity and positive attitudes. In Study 3, findings from Study 1 were reanalyzed. Subjects' responses to the ATDP-O were transformed using a repertory grid scoring technique; significant correlations were found between the tendency of subjects to respond redundantly and positive attitudes as measured by the ATDP-O, and the tendency to respond redundantly and lower cognitive complexity as measured by the RGT. These findings suggest that a large group of individuals who process information by focusing on differences, rather than similarities, may be inappropriately assessed by the ATDP, or other instruments that use a similar format in assessing attitudes.

Prototypes as an Indirect Measure of Attitudes Toward Disability Groups

“…T he study and measurement of attitudes have long been a research focus for counseling professionals because of the assertion that attitudes direct behavior (Azjen & Fishbein, 1980;Goddard & Jordan, 1998;Livneh, 1991;Millington, Strohmer, Reid, & Spengler, 1996;Yuker, 1988). Attitudes reflect a predisposition to behave in stereotypical and predictable ways toward, or in the presence of, members of a particular group (Hunt & Hunt, 2000).…”

Universal‐Diverse Orientation, Cognitive Complexity, and Sociopolitical Advocacy in Counselor Trainees

“…One possible reason that cognitive complexity did not predict UDO may be explained in the way this construct was measured. The Bieri et al (1966) repertory grid was selected mainly because of its previous use to assess complexity in attitudes toward persons with disabilities (Millington, Strohmer, Reid, & Spengler, 1996). A shortcoming of our study may be that a general measure of cognitive complexity was used rather than a diversity-specific grid.…”

Stéréotypes de l’étudiant en situation de handicap physique. Regards des étudiants valides sur deux situations de handicap : le handicap moteur et la surdité

“…Le programme de sensibilisation ayant la meilleure efficacité est celui qui distingue les types de handicap. La « pensée complexe » est définie comme la possibilité de différencier et d'intégrer des stimuli dans le but de porter des jugements (Millington, Strohmer, Reid, & Spengler, 1996). Ainsi, l'une des préconisations serait de promouvoir le traitement de l'information cognitive complexe pour éviter les biais de jugement.…”