Contextual effects in scaling

The effect of specific contextual levels upon empirical meaning of adjectives in scales was determined by 4 identical content forms. All 145 females got forms A and B, "which were in the context of "food,' one week apart." After 2 weeks ½ got a "roast beef" context and ½ got the "stewed kidneys" context. The hypothesis that scale values of adjectives rated in a "food" context would increase when rated in a specific context of a highly acceptable food was verified.