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Abstract

Bipolar adjective rating scales were constructed to evaluate selected needs from Murray's (1938) theory of personality. Twenty items measuring each of six needs (succorance, autonomy, dominance, social recognition, achievement, and nurturance) were initially developed to provide a preliminary instrument that was administered to 200 individuals. Because of an unacceptably low estimate of internal consistency, the need for succorance was eliminated. For each of the five remaining needs, sets of 12 adjective pairs were selected based on item-total correlations. The resulting 60-item inventory as well as the Personality Research Form (PRF) (Jackson, 1967) scales measuring the same five needs was administered to 254 college students. Internal-consistency estimates of the bipolar adjective measures compared favorably to those of the PRF scales. Examination of the matrix of inter correlations among bipolar and PRF measures (serving as criterion) and consideration of the problems in developing a reliable measure for succorance suggest that certain personality traits are more amenable to valid measurement by bipolar adjective items than are others.

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Bipolar Adjective Rating Scales for Self-Description: Reliability and Validity Data

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