GROUP RANKING TECHNIQUES IN THE STUDY OF THE ACCURACY OF INTERPERSONAL PERCEPTION

Theoretical and methodological problems in the study of the accuracy of interpersonal perception are discussed. It is suggested that one set of problems, known as ‘Cronbach's components’, arise from the use of arbitrary numerical scales, and the other — response set artifacts — arise from uneven distributions of responses on multiple‐choice questionnaires, or in rating scales. It is suggested that a group ranking technique — in which subjects within a group rank each other on a continuous dimension — will avoid both these sets of artifacts. Some preliminary data, using the four dimensions of extraversion, neuroticism, authoritarianism and intelligence, indicate that subjects can rank others on extraversion with some accuracy, but are poor at ranking others on intelligence and neuroticism. Their success at ranking others for authoritarianism depends on the spread of authoritarianism scores. The significance of these results is discussed.