Order effects in assessment decisions

Abstract

CONCERNED WITH THE EFFECTS OF ORDER OF PRESENTATION ON JUDGMENTS OF PEOPLE. 3 GROUPS OF 25 SS EACH JUDGED DESCRIPTIONS OF INDIVIDUALS CONTAINING VARYING PROPORTIONS OF FAVORABLE AND UNFAVORABLE ADJECTIVES. 3 ORDERS OF PRESENTATION WERE USED: ASCENDING (ALL UNFAVORABLE ADJECTIVES THROUGH TO ALL FAVORABLE), DESCENDING, AND RANDOM. MORE DESCRIPTIONS WERE ACCEPTED WITH THE ASCENDING THAN WITH THE DESCENDING ORDER. FURTHERMORE, ORDER OF PRESENTATION SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTED INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES IN CATEGORY WIDTH. THE RESULTS ARE INTERPRETED IN TERMS OF ASSIMILATION AND CONTRAST NOTIONS. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)