A COMPARISON OF TRIADIC AND DYADIC METHODS OF PERSONAL CONSTRUCT ELICITATION

Abstract

Triadic and dyadic approaches to construct elicitation are common in the personal construct literature. Little research has been devoted to comparing the two approaches, particularly, in terms of the kinds of constructs elicited by each approach. Twenty-four participants completed repertory grids (8 common elements and 12 elicited constructs) using dyadic and triadic methods for eliciting constructs. Methods of elicitation were counterbalanced. Upon completion of each grid, participants were asked to rate the salience of each construct. Elicitation types were compared in terms of construct organization, structure and content of constructs. Some differences were found in construct organization measures. Findings also indicated a greater variation in construct type using triadic method. The implications of these method-dependent differences in elicitation of constructs are discussed.