Abstract
Ninth graders rated their degree of liking for each of 12 striving tasks and, on another occasion, rated their perceptions of the similarity between each pair of tasks. Analyses of variance revealed strong PersonX Task interactions, suggesting the possibility of individual differences in task preference generality. A derived measure of task preference generality-specificity related significantly to an overall measure of perceived task similarity—“generalizers” saw the tasks as being more similar than did “specifiers.” Investigation of individual differences in degree of cross-situational generality was suggested as a way to integrate “trait” and “situational” theories of behavior.
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Data collection and initial data analyses for this study were conducted under the auspices of the Institute for Juvenile Research, Chicago, Illinois. Gratitude is expressed for the cooperation of the staffs and students at St. Michaels and Immaculata high schools, Chicago; for useful discussions of theoretical issues with Mark Oberlander; and for much assistance with data analysis provided by Arthur Kendall.
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Solomon, D. Perceptions of similarity between striving tasks and the generality of task preferences. Motiv Emot 1, 181–192 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00998519
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00998519