Abstract
The present study had two pourposes. The first was to develop the projective instrument for measuring interpersonal values and the second was to explore the interpersonal values of adolescents by using such instrument in order to discuss the value of the method.
A projective instrument for interpersonal values based on the Thematic Apperception Test was constructed. Then, an attempt was made to examine validity and reliability of the instrument, and its relationship with the questionnaire instrument designed to assess the similar interpersonal values. Four picture stimuli were selected, which represented two different interpersonal settings, a) peer relations and b) father-son relations. This measure asked the respondents to classify the 18 value items into six categories (like a Q-sort method), in order of importance of the hero in the picture in accordance with the situation that each picture represented. The 247 male subjects answered the test, and their responses were analyzed by means of the Q-modefactor analysis. As a result, 4factors were extracted and each individual had 4 composite scores (Q factor loadings). Next, to show the relation of responses on each picture individual composite scores were correlated among 4 pictures. The correlation coefficients computed between same interpersonal settings were found high and significant, while those computed between different ones were relatively low and mostly nonsignificant. This result suggested that the same set of pictures represented the same contents as expected. The Result of comparing projective measure with a self-report instrument based on the questionnaire containing the same 18 value items indicated that on fatherson settings inter-correlations between the two instruments were relatively low. This meant that the same individual described or portrayed his own values differently on the two instruments. The above result might partly be attributable to the problem of reliability ; alpha coefficients for each of 4 dimensions were not high enough.
The findings on the difference in responses between university and high school students, and between delinquents and nondelinquents were as follows.
1) There existed significant differences in composite scores between university and high school students only on stimuli of the father-son settings. These differences were found related to items such as “self-control” and “cheerfulness.”
2) Delinquents responded significantly low for items related to “independence” and “courage” on stimuli of the father-son settings comparing to nondelinquent subjects.
3) The tendency of interpersonal values on “tenderness” being more important than “intelligence” was commonly seen in both self-report and projective responses by almost all subjects.
The difference between subject groups being mainly found in responses on the projective measure, it was suggested that this projective instrument might make more detailed description of the interpersonal values than the self-report one.
