This paper suggests the utility of the semantic differential technique as one method of measurement in investigations of disasters. The technique is versatile and efficient and can be used to assess psychological factors in behavior and perceptions of groups who experience disasters. A previous study in which this measurement was used to examine the aftereffects of a natural disaster is presented.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AdamsP. R.AdamsG. R.Mount Saint Helen's ashfall: Evidence for a disaster-stress reaction. American Psychologist, 1984, 39, 251–260.
2.
AronsonD. W.A factor analyzed semantic differential form useful to the clinical or community psychologist. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 1979, 35, 779–783.
3.
ChamberlinB. C.Mayo seminars in psychiatry: The psychological aftermath of disaster. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 1980, 41, 238–244.
4.
De ManA.Simpson-HousleyP.CurtisF.SmithD.Trait anxiety and response to potential flood disaster. Psychological Reports, 1984, 54, 507–512.
5.
EndicottJ.SpitzerR. L.What! Another rating scale? The Psychiatric Evaluation Form. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 1972, 154, 88–104.
6.
GillieronE.BovetJ.Evaluation of psychotherapies and Osgood's semantic differential. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 1980, 33, 46–58.
7.
GleserG. C.GreenB. L.WingetC. N.Quantifying interview data on psychic impairment of disaster survivors. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 1978, 166, 209–216.
8.
GreenB. L.Assessing levels of psychological impairment following disaster: Consideration of actual and methodological dimensions. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 1982, 170. 544–552.
9.
GreenB. L.GraceM. C.da SilvaCrespo L.GleserG. C.Use of the Psychiatric Evaluation Form to quantify children's interview data. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1983, 51, 353–359.
10.
KinstonW.RosserR.Disaster: Effects on mental and physical state. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 1974, 18, 437–456.
11.
KlemmackD. L.BallwegJ. A.Concept-scale interaction with the semantic differential technique. Journal of Psychology, 1973, 84, 345–352.
12.
LiftonR. J.OlsonE.The human meaning of total disaster: The Buffalo Creek experience. Psychiatry, 1976, 39, 1–18.
13.
OsgoodC. E.SuciG. J.TannenbaumP. H.The measurement of meaning. Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press, 1957.
14.
PiotrowskiC.Factor structure of the semantic differential as a function of method of analysis. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 1983, 43, 283–288. (a).
15.
PiotrowskiC.Reliability of the semantic differential used by children: Evaluation of the evaluative dimension. Psychological Reports, 1983, 52, 24–26. (b).
16.
PiotrowskiC.DunhamF. Y.Locus of control orientation and perception of “Hutricane” in fifth graders. Journal of General Psychology, 1983, 109, 119–127.
17.
PowellB. J.PenickE. C.Psychological distress following a natural disaster: A one-year follow-up of 98 flood victims. Journal of Community Psychology, 1983, 11, 269–276.
18.
PreslyA. S.Concept-scale interaction in the semantic differential and its implications for factor scores. British Journal of Psychology, 1969, 60, 109–113.