Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Cognitive Differentiation And Verbal Ability: A Test Of Two Judgmental Models, Kristine K. Siedis

Student Work

Differences in judgmental models between highly differentiated individuals and poorly differentiated individuals were investigated. Level of cognitive differentiation was determined by participants’ responses to a Repertory Grid technique. Based upon previous research, it was predicted that highly differentiated individuals would engage in judgmental processes that reflected a nonadditive model, while poorly differentiated individuals would engage in more additive judgmental processes. While it was shown that highly differentiated individuals did engage in nonadditive judgmental processes and poorly differentiated individuals did engage in additive judgmental processes, the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant. The findings are discussed in context …

Conceptual Systems Theory And Cognitive Complexity, Thomas T. Colyer

Student Work

The major function of this study was to assess differences in interpersonal cognitive complexity among the four belief systems specified by Harvey’s Conceptual Systems Theory. In addition, criticism is offered of many of the more commonly used indicators of cognitive complexity (e.g. Bieri, 1955) since they tend to identify cognitive complexity with cognitive differentiation. Herein is offered an alternative method of measuring cognitive complexity which is seen as indicating both differentiation and integration. The study used 54 graduate and undergraduate students, of which 35 were females and 19 were males. The alternative method of calculating cognitive complexity relies upon Hinkle’s …

The Role Of Cognitive Differentiation In Conceptual Systems Theory, Mary Flume

Student Work

A cognitive approach to theory and research in personality proposes that individuals develop relatively enduring cognitive schemas for experiencing and organizing their .social world. Cognitive schemas are templates through which information is filtered or transformed.

It may be understood that cognitive personality theory emphasises the structure of cognition rather than its content. Such an emphasis is based on the assumption that structural variables are relatively enduring and invariant across situations, whereas the content of personality is expected to fluctuate markedly. Cognitive personality theory should provide the researcher with an efficient basis for describing the actions of a person and lead …