Inferential Sets and Descriptive Versus Evaluative Aspects of Behavioral Inference

The experiment reported here assessed the effects of different situational contexts on the relative weighting of both descriptive and evaluative similarity in behavioral inferences. Jones and Thibaut's theory of inferential sets identified situational contexts likely to affect the relative weighting of these factors. It was hypothesized that (a) when the aim of the observer was to determine whether another person would facilitate or interfere with goal attainment, inferences would be based on evaluative similarity; and (b) when the aim of the observer was to make an objective analysis of behavior, inferences would be based on descriptive similarity. Results indicated that descriptive similarity was of overwhelming significance. Its weighting did not vary as a function of situational context. Although evaluative similarity was of less importance, the situational context reliably altered its weighting.