The Validity, Long-Term Reliability, Generality, Robustness, and Inter-Relatedness of Selected Repgrid Indices of Cognitive Structure

Abstract

A number of characteristics of eleven Repgrid indices of cognitive structure, in particular the Smith & Leach hierarchical complexity index, are investigated among boys and girls in the 9-15 years age range. The Smith & Leach index is shown to be significantly reliable (p < .01) over a 30-month period, but in common with seven indices of cognitive differentiation, it is of dubious validity. Reasons for such dubiety are discussed.

Notes

^1. The writer wishes to express his gratitute to Professor Dennis Child, of Newcastle University, under whose supervision the research reported in this paper was conducted, and to Dr. Chris Leach, of Newcastle University, for the computer program for calculating hierarchical complexity.