Abstract
Although psychologists have dealt with the concept of novelty in divergent ways, suggesting that the concept might be multidimensional, a factor analysis of Ss’ ratings of 18 descriptive scales resulted in only one significant factor for each of three modes of data variation. Thirty college students were asked to rate five congruous and five incongruous animal slides on a series of 18 adjective scales. A Tucker three-mode factor analysis of the data was performed with adjectives, slides, and Ss as the variables. In general, the results favored a unidimensional concept of novelty and failed to indicate a systematic basis for individual differences.
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The authors wish to acknowledge both the Computation Center of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where the data analysis was carried out on an IBM 7094 computer and the Tufts University Psychology Department which provided the necessary funding.
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Bernstein, A.L., Wicker, F.W. A three-mode factor analysis of the concept of novelty. Psychon Sci 14, 291–292 (1969). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03329130
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03329130