Multidimensional Scaling of Perceived Interests of Three Student Stereotypes

Abstract

This study was designed to assess the underlying structure of the perception of three hypothetical university-campus stereotypes in terms of their interests in a sample of academic subject matter taken from a course in introductory psychology. Stimuli, 3 of which involved the interests of the hypothetical students and 7 involving the sample of academic interests, were rated in terms of similarity. 3 dimensions, accounting for the majority of variance, were extracted. The first 2 were tentatively designated as “applied-pure” and “theoretical-experimental.” The third seemed specific to interest areas of personality and developmental psychology.