A Procedure for Coding Self-Regard from Narrative Self-Descriptions

Researchers typically obtain numerical measures of self-regard from the self-reports of cooperative participants by administering assessment scales. Selected narrative self-descriptions would become numerical data sources were suitable content analyses devised. This paper documents two descriptive studies (N = 46, N = 62) that illustrate a basis for suitable designs. That basis is a simple coding procedure in which raters use a 9-point scale to code measures of specific variables from autobiographical narratives. In each study, 5 raters apply content analyses based on the procedure to code their subjective assessments of self-liking, self-competence, and self-regard described in 108 brief narratives (60-150 words). Analysis shows substantial inter-rater agreement and content validity for the measures of self-regard. This suggests researchers could apply the coding procedure to other data.