indexDilemma(x, self, ideal, diff.mode = 1, diff.congruent = NA, diff.discrepant = NA, diff.poles = 1, r.min = 0.35, exclude = FALSE, digits = 2, show = F, output = 1, index = T, trim = 20)repgrid object.diff.mode=1 will use the difference in
ratings between the self and the ideal element to determine if
the construct is congruent or discrepant. No other
modes have yet been implemented.diff.mode=1. Maximal difference between
element ratings to define construct as congruent (default
diff.congruent=1). Note that the value
needs to be adjusted by the user according to the rating scale
used.diff.mode=1. Minimal difference between
element ratings to define construct as discrepant (default
diff.discrepant=3). Note that the value
needs to be adjusted by the user according to the rating scale
used.FALSE).2).r.min.output=1 prints
classification of the construct into congruent and discrepant
and the detected dilemmas. output=1 only prints the latter.
output=0 will surpress printing.
Note that the type of output does not affect the object
that is returned invisibly which will be the same in any case
(see value).TRUE).20). If NA no trimming is done. Trimming
simply saves space when displaying the output.The detection of implicative dilemmas happens in two steps. First the constructs are classified as being 'congruent' or 'discrepant'. Second the correlation between a congruent and discrepant construct pair is assessed if it is big enough to indicate an implication.
Classifying the construct To detect implicit dilemmas the construct pairs are first identified as 'congruent' or 'discrepant'. The assessment is based on the rating differences between the elements 'self' and 'ideal self'. A construct is 'congruent' if the construction of the 'self' and the preferred state (i.e. ideal self) are the same or similar. A construct is discrepant if the construction of the 'self' and the 'ideal' is dissimilar. Suppose the element 'self' is rated 2 and 'ideal self' 5 on a scale from 1 to 6. The ratings differences are 5-2 = 3. If this difference is smaller than e.g. 1 the construct is 'congruent', if it is bigger than 3 it is 'discrepant'.
The values used to classify the constructs 'congruent' or 'discrepant' can be determined in several ways (cf. Bell, 2009):
The value mode is determined via the argument diff.mode.
If no 'a priori' criteria to determine if the construct
is congruent or discrepant is supplied as an argument, the values are chosen
acording to the range of the rating scale used. For the following scales
the defaults are chosen as:
| Scale |
| 'A priori' criteria |
| 1 2 |
| --> con: <=0 disc:="">=1 |
| 1 2 3 |
| --> con: <=0 disc:="">=2 |
| 1 2 3 4 |
| --> con: <=0 disc:="">=2 |
| 1 2 3 4 5 |
| --> con: <=1 disc:="">=3 |
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 |
| --> con: <=1 disc:="">=3 |
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 |
| --> con: <=1 disc:="">=4 |
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 |
| --> con: <=1 disc:="">=5 |
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 |
| --> con: <=2 disc:="">=5 |
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 |
| --> con: <=2 disc:="">=6 |
Defining the correlations
As the implications between constructs cannot be derived from a
rating grid directly, the correlation between two constructs
is used as an indicator for implication. A large correlation means
that one construct pole implies the other. A small correlation
indicates a lack of implication. The minimum criterion for a correlation
to indicate implication is set to .35 (cf. Feixas & Saul, 2004).
The user may also chose another value. To get a an impression
of the distribution of correlations in the grid, a visualization can
be prompted via the argument show.
When calculating the correlation used to assess if an implication
is given or not, the elements under consideration (i. e. self and ideal self)
can be included (default) or excluded. The options will cause different
correlations (see argument exclude).
Example of an implicative dilemma A depressive person considers herself as timid and wished to change to the opposite pole she defines as extraverted. This construct is called discrepant as the construction of the 'self' and the desired state (e.g. described by the 'ideal self') on this construct differ. The person also considers herself as sensitive (preferred pole) for which the opposite pole is selfish. This construct is congruent, as the person construes herself as she would like to be. If the person now changed on the discrepant construct from the undesired to the desired pole, i.e. from timid to extraverted, the question can be asked what consequences such a change has. If the person construes being timid and being sensitive as related and that someone who is extraverted will not be timid, a change on the first construct will imply a change on the congruent construct as well. Hence, the positive shift from timid to extraverted is presumed to have a undesired effect in moving from sensitive towards selflish. This relation is called an implicative dilemma. As the implications of change on a construct cannot be derived from a rating grid directly, the correlation between two constructs is used as an indicator for implication.
Dorough, S., Grice, J. W., & Parker, J. (2007). Implicative dilemmas and psychological well-being. Personal Construct Theory & Practice, (4), 83-101.
Feixas, G., & Saul, L. A. (2004). The Multi-Center Dilemma Project: an investigation on the role of cognitive conflicts in health. The Spanish Journal of Psychology, 7(1), 69-78.
Feixas, G., Saul, L. A., & Sanchez, V. (2000). Detection and analysis of implicative dilemmas: implications for the therapeutic process. In J. W. Scheer (Ed.), The Person in Society: Challenges to a Constructivist Theory. Giessen: Psychosozial-Verlag.
Winter, D. A. (1982). Construct relationships, psychological disorder and therapeutic change. British Journal of Medical Psychology, 55 (Pt 3), 257-269.
## Not run:
#
# indexDilemma(boeker, self=1, ideal=2)
# indexDilemma(boeker, self=1, ideal=2, out=2)
#
# # additionally show correlation distribution
# indexDilemma(boeker, self=1, ideal=2, show=T)
#
# # adjust minimal correlation
# indexDilemma(boeker, 1, 2, r.min=.25)
#
# # adjust congruence and discrepance ranges
# indexDilemma(boeker, 1, 2, diff.con=0, diff.disc=4)
#
# ## End(Not run)
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