Scaling Interpersonal Checklist items to a circular model

Abstract

The items of the Interpersonal Checklist (ICL) were scaled to a circular model by two different procedures: (1) the items were sorted by two different samples into categories corresponding to the labels of the eight ICL octants and (2) each item was scaled twice by a third sample, first on the 9-point bipolar scale Hate-Love, and second on the 9-point bipolar scale Dominance-Submissiveness. The two sets of ratings were found to correlate -.09, indicating that the two postulated dimensions presumed to underly the circular order are orthogonal. The items were then plotted into the plane formed by using the two scales as axes. The circular scale values calculated for the two sorting procedures correlated .95. The scale values obtained from the sorting procedure and those from the two-dimensional procedure correlated .89. In general, the plotted items followed a circular order from close synonymity to antonymity and back. Several gaps on the circle were found, indicating an inadequate sampling of items. Scale values were calculated for each of the eight ICL scales using the circular scale values as item weights. When these values were plotted and compared with a factor plot of the eight ICL scales, the plots were remarkably similar. Many items were found to be displaced by the scaling procedures from the placements given by the authors of the ICL. Most of these displacements were found to be related to an intensity dimension postulated by the authors of the ICL. In general, the mild/moderate items were scaled toward the Love and Dominance poles, and the strong/extreme items were scaled toward the Hate and Submissive poles, thus pulling the items away from the scales they were intended to represent. Some of the major implications of the use of these procedures in the construction of personality instruments are discussed.