Abstract
Coding schemes developed in the literature for content analysis of spontaneous self-descriptions have provided research results that are hard to interpret, because they have not considered some basic statistical assumptions. Using data from a sample of 426 young adult participants, we illustrate a new coding scheme for spontaneous self-descriptions and develop a set of indices for statistical analyses (completion, salience, density, and contrast indices). The present coding scheme uses a more theoretically-based definition of interdependence and provides a more balanced frequency distribution than two traditional coding schemes in the literature (i.e., Kuhn and McPartland; Triandis). Most participants reported a «mixture» of self-descriptions (independent and interdependent). Overall, no significant gender differences were found. However, females used more emotional-affective content than did males in their independent self-concept. In conclusion we discuss the constructs of consensual and interdependent self-conceptions, as well as the empirical evidence in relation to gender differences in self-description.
Translated title of the contribution | [Autom. eng. transl.] The concept of self. For a Twenty Statements Test (TST) coding and analysis system |
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Original language | Italian |
Pages (from-to) | 937-958 |
Number of pages | 22 |
Journal | Giornale Italiano di Psicologia |
Volume | 38 |
Publication status | Published - 2011 |
Keywords
- Twenty Statements Test (TST)
- collectivism-individualism
- collettivismo-individualismo
- concetto di sé
- differenze di genere
- gender differences
- interdependence
- interdipendenza
- self-concept