Effects of variation of profile format on intelligence and sociability judgments

Abstract

In a variety of laboratory and practical settings, persons are confronted with a profile of scores from which a more global judgment is required. Profile scores are commonly displayed in either a percentile or T score format. This study investigates the effects of variation of these 2 formats upon judgments of intelligence and sociability. 2 similarly designed experiments were conducted in which 36 undergraduate Ss each made 600 judgments from profiles in the 2 formats. A regression model was fitted to the data for each judge. Relative to T scores, the percentile format was found to be associated with greater variance of judgments, higher reliability, and higher multiple correlations. These findings support a view that judgments from profiles are influenced not only by the underlying meaning of the plotted scores but by their graphical location as well. From Psyc Abstracts 36:05:5HE14K. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)