Cognitive Complexity and Categorization of Stimulus Objects Being Judged

Abstract

Cognitive complexity and the categorization of stimulus objects being judged was examined. Previous research indicated that these stimulus objects could be analyzed in terms of two distinct subgroups with reference to social distance. The cognitive complexity scores assigned to 10 stimulus objects by 82 Ss were subjected to a principal factor analysis. Since the largest two factors extracted did not have appropriate content and left a large proportion of the total score variance unaccounted for, it was concluded that these role models could not be categorized into two distinct subgroups upon the basis of affective stimulus value. Future research should consider the significance of the individual stimulus objects being judged.