THE MEASUREMENT AND MISMEASUREMENT OF OPHIDIOPHOBIA IN ANALOG RESEARCH - A PROCEDURAL REVIEW

The adequacy of current paper-and-pencil measures of ophidiophobia (fe ar of snakes) was analyzed by reviewing the subject selection procedur es in 24 published articles with the restriction that the procedures i nvolve some form of self-report. The sample characteristics and select ion procedures of these studies were reviewed in detail. We conclude t hat the recommendations and conclusions of these studies should not be accepted due to limited generalizability. Paper-and-pencil measures a re excellent initial selection devices, but cannot stand alone in sele cting ophidiophobics from the general population.