SYMBOLIC-INTERACTION THEORY AND PARTICIPANT OBSERVER PERSPECTIVE - REPLY

The problem of personal bias in symbolic interaction theory and partic ipant observer perspective is outlined. The bias of Dr. Schumm, a Rese rve officer, appears in his suggestions to analyze: (1) intention to j oin Reserve Guard service instead of retention, (2) retention in Regul ar Army (RA) versus United States Army Reserve (USAR) instead of the f our sources of commissioning analyzed by me. The bias is also manifest in his assertions that I should say that (ROTC) ''officers can only b e retained if retirement policies for USAR officers are changed,'' eve n if I do not have any retirement policy variable in my model.