The symmetry of preference judgments reflects how much a person's standards affect judgments. In this study, 80 subjects used one of two methods of measuring the symmetry of preference judgments, and a third group of 40 subjects used the method of paired comparisons. Although about 65% of the judgments were symmetrical, individuals varied from 16% to 90%. Besides the effects of standards contributing to the asymmetry in preference, other factors such as reliability and order may contribute to the asymmetry. The implications of assuming judgments are symmetrical affect all areas whether studying aesthetic preferences, cognitive complexity, or individual differences using personality theory.
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