Abstract
Moderately polarized test traits imbedded in a narrow affective range of context trait adjectives were rated as more extreme than when they were imbedded within a wider range of context traits. It was concluded that the reference scale underlying impression ratings is not impervious to context-related anchoring effects. The implications of this finding for between-Ss tests of Anderson’s averaging model are discussed.
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This research was supported by National Science Foundation Grant GN 534.1. Facilities for data analysis were provided by the Computer Center at Ohio State University.
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Simpson, D.D., Ostrom, T.M. & Sloan, L.R. Anchoring effects of trait range in impression formation. Bull. Psychon. Soc. 2, 383–384 (1973). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03334420
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03334420