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Abstract

The psychophysical technique of magnitude estimation was employed to measure social attitudes on the appropriateness of governmental repression and protester actions. Results indicated partial support of the proposed eye-for-eye model for the protester's reactions (P:R) and the authorities' reactions (R:P). Appropriateness judgments between Ss were diverse and averaging responses, over either trials or Ss, as has been the general practice in previous studies, appeared invalid and would probably have produced power functions and indices not representative of the individual S. The attitude judgment situation appeared to be at least partially metathetic in contrast to the prothetic character it has been attributed in the past. Considerations for the implementation of magnitude estimation in social research were discussed.

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Social Psychophysics: Measurement of Attitudes toward Violence

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