The Crumbaugh Purpose-in-Life test provides a measure of the extent to which an individual perceives life to be meaningful. As part of a larger study the scale was factor analyzed and then cross- validated with two similar samples of high school students. Al though assumed to be unidimensional, the test was found to contain two orthogonal dimensions: Despair and Enthusiasm. The test ap peared to be an excellent measure of adolescents' general attitudes toward life.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Cartwright, D.S.A misapplication of factor analysis. American Sociological Review, 1965, 30, 249-251.
2.
Crumbaugh, J.E.Cross-validation of purpose-in-life test based on Frankl's concepts . Journal of Individual Psychology, 1968, 24, 74-81.
3.
Ludz, P.C.Alienation as a concept in the social sciences. Current Sociology , 1973, 21, 9-103.
4.
Merton, R.K.Anomie, anomia, and social interaction. In M. B. Clinard (Ed.), Anomie and deviant behavior. London: Macmillan, 1964 .
5.
Neal, A.G. and Rettig, S.On the multidimensionality of alienation. American Sociological Review, 1967, 32, 54-64.
6.
Nie, N.H., Hull, C.H., Jenkins, J.G., Steinbrenner, R. and Bent, D.H.Statistical package for the social sciences (2nd Ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill, 1975.
7.
Walters, L.H.Locus of control and anomia in male and female adolescents when considered with selected background variables: The special case of pregnant adolescent girls. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Georgia, 1978.
