Using Balanced Scales to Control Acquiescence

Cloud, Jonathan; Vaughan, Graham M.

doi:10.2307/2786329

Cited by 54 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…This kind of response style, also referred to as acquiescence (Bentler, Jackson, & Messick, 1971), could obstruct the exact meaning of the observed empirical relations among the variables (Podsakoff, MacKenzie, Lee, & Podsakoff, 2003), threatening psychometric properties of the instrument such as factorial or discriminant validity (Bagozzi & Yi, 1993;Marsh, 1996;Tepper & Tepper, 1993). With the aim of preventing acquiescence response style, several authors have suggested the strategy of developing scales with a balanced number of both positively and negatively worded items (Cloud & Vaughan, 1970;Nunnally, 1978;Pedhazur & Schmelkin, 1991). The responses to the negative items are coded in reverse order, and then combined with the responses to positive items.…”

mentioning

confidence: 98%

Much More Than Model Fitting? Evidence for the Heritability of Method Effect Associated With Positively Worded Items of the Life Orientation Test Revised

Alessandri

Vecchione

Fagnani

et al. 2010

Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal

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When a self-report instrument includes a balanced number of positively and negatively worded items, factor analysts often use method effect factors to aid model fitting. One of the most widely investigated sources of method effects stems from the respondent tendencies to agree with an item regardless of its content. The nature of these effects, often referred to as acquiescence, is still debated. This study provides a unique contribution to the understanding of the substantive nature of these factors. The revised Life Orientation Test was administered to 653 twins (40% males) to unravel the genetic and the environmental components of method effect associated with positively worded items. Biometric modeling revealed significant heritability for the method effect factor along with strong unique environmental influences. This provides a substantive interpretation of method effects as a stable individual tendency. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed

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mentioning

confidence: 98%

Much More Than Model Fitting? Evidence for the Heritability of Method Effect Associated With Positively Worded Items of the Life Orientation Test Revised

Alessandri

Vecchione

Fagnani

et al. 2010

Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal

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“…At this point one may ask what policy decisions we should now take regarding the use of balanced F and conservatism scales. Can we, as Cloud & Vaughan (1970) contend, continue to use them for controlling out acquiescent set in our final results? Let it be observed that no matter whether the two halves are orthogonal or negatively correlated, the total score will still represent the intersection of what is measured by both.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…If Kerlinger is right, what are the implications for the practice of using balanced scales to control out acquiescent response set (Cloud & Vaughan, 1970) ? This practice seems to be predicated on the assumption that positive and negative items are equivalent in content and differ only in the effect on them of acquiescent set.…”

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confidence: 99%

Are Conservatism Scales Irreversible?

Ray¹

1972

Br J Soc Clin Psychol

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It is proposed that the low negative correlation observed between positive and negative halves of balanced F scales is not atypical of scales in this general content area. An extreme form of this view is Kerlinger's theory that liberalism and conservatism are innately orthogonal. This theory was tested using two conservatism scales: one a revision of Wilson & Patterson's C Scale and one a scale using items in the conventional format. Low negative correlations between positive and negative halves were found in both cases. It was reasoned that orthogonality between one‐way worded scales indicates a negative relationship in the real attitudes being measured. Kerlinger's theory is therefore rejected as inadequate and as contraindicated by the results. It is concluded, however, that some balanced versions of the California F Scale may have been too hastily rejected. Conversely, it is held that the Wilson & Patterson C Scale might be rejected in favour of one of the new conservatism scales developed in this study. This is because the original C Scale showed a positive correlation between its supposedly negative and positive halves.

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“…Th ese include strategies that emphasize construction of items and scales that are less susceptible to these measurement artifacts and analytic approaches to assessing and adjusting for response style diff erences across groups. Some specifi c questionnaire design recommendations include the avoidance of agree-disagree question response formats (Converse & Presser, 1986) and the use of measurement scales that contain balanced sets of positively and negatively worded questions to eliminate or minimize the eff ects of acquiescence (Cloud & Vaughan, 1970;Javeline, 1999;Knowles & Nathan, 1997;Mirowsky & Ross, 1991;Ray, 1979). Others have attempted to avoid acquiescence and extreme responding eff ects by developing ipsative (i.e., ranking) measures that are believed to be less susceptible to these forms of bias (Schuman & Presser, 1981;Toner, 1987).…”

Section: Addressing Cultural Variability In Response Stylesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cross-Cultural Consumer Psychology

Shavitt¹,

Lee²,

Johnson³

Handbook of Consumer Psychology

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OVERVIEWEvery year, multinational companies spend billions of dollars in marketing their products around the world. Some of this money is wasted or, worse, actually damages the marketer's reputation through cultural or linguistic faux pas (e.g., Ricks, 1983). As new global markets emerge, and existing markets become increasingly segmented along ethnic or subcultural lines, the need to market eff ectively to consumers who have diff erent cultural values has never been more acute. Th us, it is no surprise that in the last ten to 15 to 20 years, culture has rapidly emerged as a central focus of research in consumer psychology. What is Culture?Culture is a crucial concept for the understanding of consumer behavior because it is the lens through which people view marketing messages and products. Culture consists of shared elements that provide the standards for perceiving, believing, evaluating, communicating, and acting among those who share a language, a historical period, and a geographic location. As a psychological construct, culture can be studied in multiple ways-across nations, across ethnic groups within nations, across individuals within nations (focusing on cultural orientation), and even within individuals through the priming of cultural values. As will be discussed presently, regardless of how culture is studied, cultural distinctions have been demonstrated to have important implications for advertising content, persuasiveness of appeals, consumer motivation, consumer judgment processes, and consumer response styles. Chapter Organization and ScopeIn this chapter, numerous studies on these topics are reviewed and discussed. Because reviewing the rapidly growing area of cross-cultural psychology could fi ll several handbook chapters, we are by necessity selective in our coverage. We focus more heavily on fi ndings specifi c to the consumer domain rather than a more general review of cultural diff erences. Th e content is organized around both the theoretical and the methodological implications of cultural diff erences in consumer judgments. Th e individualism/collectivism cultural construct and independent/interdependent selfconstrual construct are given special attention because extensive research has demonstrated the implications of these variables for outcomes relevant to consumer behavior. Because the study of culture requires the cross-cultural equivalence of measurement, the second half of this chapter addresses in detail specifi c measurement issues and culturally based response biases likely to be of interest to consumer psychologists. We close with a review of issues and methods for addressing measurement equivalence and cultural variability in response styles. CULTURAL VARIATION: STRUCTURAL ISSUES What Are the Key Cultural Constructs or Dimensions?Th e constructs of individualism and collectivism represent the most broadly used dimensions of cultural variability for cross-cultural comparison (Gudykunst & Ting-Toomey, 1988). In individualistic (IND) cultures, people tend to prefer independent rel...

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Using Balanced Scales to Control Acquiescence

Cited by 54 publications

References 23 publications

Much More Than Model Fitting? Evidence for the Heritability of Method Effect Associated With Positively Worded Items of the Life Orientation Test Revised

Much More Than Model Fitting? Evidence for the Heritability of Method Effect Associated With Positively Worded Items of the Life Orientation Test Revised

Are Conservatism Scales Irreversible?

Cross-Cultural Consumer Psychology

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