STANDARDIZATION OF INTERELEMENT DISTANCES IN REPERTORY GRID TECHNIQUEAND ITS CONSEQUENCES FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL INTERPRETATION OF SELF-IDENTITY PLOTS - AN EMPIRICAL-STUDY

A. Hartmann (1992) questioned the methodico-statistical reliability of Euclidean distance values between grid elements developed by P. Slate r (1977), which were subsequently used by many authors as ''classic'' parameters within he framework of Repertory Grid Technique (G. A. Kell y, 1955). Hartmann demonstrated that element distances from grids of d ifferent matrix sizes (i.e., the number of constructs) are not directl y comparable even after standardization by means of the Unit of Expect ed Distance (Slater, 1977) and proposed an additional, double standard ization to solve the problem. The clinical relevance of Hautmann's cri tique was studied using 233 empirical grids from psychological routine diagnostics-whose construct number could vary from 4 to 14-using the concept of self-identity plots (SIPs; H. Norris & F. Makhlouf-Norris, 1976). A comparison of the results of both standardizations reveals th at SIP findings, which are ''inconspicuous'' according to Slater, turn ''conspicuous'' significantly in double standardization. due to an in crease in different forms of isolation (actual self isolation, ideal s elf isolation, double isolation). By contrast, the frequencies of self alienation and self convergence are even reduced. Furthermore, double standardization lends to remarkable modifications of SIP findings eve n when examining grids of equal matrix size.