Order, Sequence, and Retest Effects with the S-I-O Procedure

Abstract

192 college student Ss individually took two administrations of a modified version of the Butler and Haigh Self (S)—Ideal Self (I)—Ordinary Person (O) Q-sort in one of eight order/sequence combinations: ISO, IOS, SIO, OIS, SOI, OSI, SO, and OS. The adjustment scores for the S and O concepts demonstrated significant increases upon retesting. Both the general level of the O adjustment score, and the congruence of the S and O concepts, increased as the serial position prominence of the I concept decreased. It was concluded that the usual finding of mean O adjustment scores substantially lower than mean S adjustment scores is attributable to the prominent position of the I concept in the conventional S-I-O order/sequence.