The relative susceptibility of two rating scales to disturbances resulting from shifts in stimulus context

Abstract

A simple and a complex rating scale were compared with respect to their resistance to distorting effects produced by limited and shifting stimulus contexts. These 9-point scales assessed "shifting in the value of common stimuli as a function of context" and "loss of refinement or correlational accuracy." Results favored the detailed rating scale with judgmental equivalence and accuracy. Utility of creating experimental stress tests for rating scale evaluation is implied. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)