ASSIMILATION AND CONTRAST EFFECTS IN GENERAL SPECIFIC QUESTIONS

Data from five surveys that included specific and general questions on a similar topic are examined. Results suggest that when specific and general questions are paired in surveys, significant patterns will app ear. In each of the five studies, correlations between pairs of questi ons were significantly different when the general followed the specifi c item compared with the general/specific order. But there was no cons istent pattern of assimilation (answers to second item agree with the first) or contrast (response to second question opposite that of the f irst). One study showed clear evidence of assimilation; the other four showed varying degrees of contrast effects.