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Development of WRRL: A New Computerized Measure of the Reflecting/Reorganizing Function

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Abstract

Reflecting/Reorganizing (R/R) is one of the three functions described by Bucci (Overview of the referential process: the operation of language within and between people, 2021a) as part of the referential process. The Weighted Referential Activity Dictionary (WRAD) was previously developed to model the Symbolizing function of the referential process. This paper presents the development of the Weighted Reflecting Reorganizing List (WRRL) as a model of the R/R function. The basic premise of this approach is that by rating segments of text rather than individual words, and using a word by word weighting procedure designed for this purpose, it is possible to identify the nature of the language style that is connected with particular degrees of involvement in the psychological process being modeled. Starting with a brief description of the R/R function, an iterative process was applied that resulted in a clear scoring manual for the R/R function. The method of developing the dictionary is described, a study providing validation for the measure is presented, and the nature of the language style used to express the R/R function is discussed. As was described for the WRAD, the language style of the WRRL was found to involve use of particular function words, applicable across a wide range of contents.

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Notes

  1. A high degree of inter-rater reliability was found using intra-class correlation coefficient two-way mixed effects model with consistency definition (N = 146). The average measure ICC was 0.800 with a 95% confidence interval from 0.722 to 0.855 (F(145, 145) = 4.990, p < 0.001).

  2. Throughout this paper, the term correlation is used to refer to the Pearson correlation coefficient.

  3. The procedure used in assigning these weights is described in detail in the forthcoming monograph by Maskit, The DAAP Technical Manual (2020 version); see also www.thereferentialprocess.org.

  4. As shown in Tables II and III below, power is defined as the product: 100 × frequency × dictionary weight, where the dictionary weights in each dictionary have been rescaled to lie between − 1 and + 1.

  5. This and subsequent definitions quoted in this paragraph are cited from Wikipedia. Also see Pustet (2003).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pacella Research Center, New York Psychoanalytic Society and Institute, 247 E 82nd St, New York, NY, 10028, USA

    You Zhou

  2. Mathemaitics Department, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA

    Bernard Maskit

  3. Derner Institute, Adelphi University, Garden City, NY, USA

    Wilma Bucci

  4. Philosophy Department, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA

    Adam Fishman

  5. John Jay College of Criminal Justice, New York, NY, USA

    Sean Murphy

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  1. You Zhou
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  2. Bernard Maskit
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  3. Wilma Bucci
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  4. Adam Fishman
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  5. Sean Murphy
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Correspondence to You Zhou.

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Zhou, Y., Maskit, B., Bucci, W. et al. Development of WRRL: A New Computerized Measure of the Reflecting/Reorganizing Function. J Psycholinguist Res 50, 51–64 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10936-021-09762-7

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