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Scale Values Derived from the Method of Choices

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2025

J. P. Guilford
J. P. Guilford*
Affiliation:
University of Nebraska
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Abstract

In many a psychometric problem, particularly in practical problems, the only data conveniently obtainable are the first choices given to certain stimuli among a list of stimuli that are available for selection. By assuming that such choices represent real comparative judgments, we may apply Thurstone's law of comparative judgments, extract experimental proportions from the numbers of first choices, and compute psychological scale values for the stimuli. Two procedures are proposed for estimating such proportions and examples of their applications are given. A procedure for allocating a meaningful zero point on the scale by the use of absolute judgments is explained and demonstrated. Suggestions are added for overcoming certain weaknesses and limitations of the method of choices.

Type
Original Paper
Information
Psychometrika , Volume 2 , Issue 3 , September 1937 , pp. 139 - 150
Copyright
Copyright © 1937 The Psychometric Society

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References

* Thurstone, L. L., Psychological Analysis, Amer. J. Psychol., 1927, 38, 368-389.

* For a systematic treatment of paired comparisons, see the author’s Psychometric Methods, New York: McGraw-Hill, 1936, Chapter VII.

† Ibid., p. 230.

‡ For a discussion of the weighting o.f scale separations, see L. L. Thurstone, The Measurement of Opinion, Jour. Abn. and Soc. Psychol., 1928, 22, 415-430.

* A similar assumption has been made for dealing with paired comparisons. See author’s op. cit., p. 236.

* Op. cit., p. 239.