RELATIVE PROPORTIONAL SCORING OF THE WAYS OF COPING CHECKLIST - IS ITADVANTAGEOUS OR ARTIFACTUAL

One way of scoring the Ways of Coping Checklist is to compute relative / proportional scores in which the mean score for each scale is divide d by the sum of the means for all of the scales. The proportional scor ing method reportedly sets the score on each scale relative to the sco re for the whole scale. Using the proportional scores, direct comparis ons can be made for the profiles of subjects who differ in term of the sheer magnitude of their responses. In the present article, it is arg ued that the relative scoring method introduces an artifact that confo unds multivariate statistical analyses and ignores an individual's gen eral reactivity to problems. Quantitative examples are given to illust rate some of the ways in which relative scoring distorts the pattern o f intercorrelations among the WCC scales and thereby produces misleadi ng multivariate results. Multivariate analysis of the raw scores is th en shown to accomplish the mission set forth for the relative/ proport ional scores. The latter analysis suggests that an intricate structura l relationship exits between components of coping and depression. It i s concluded that the relationship between coping and depression may be a matter of how effective the coping effort is when the individual is reactive to problems.