A TYPOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF THE GERMAN ORIE NTATION STYLE QUESTIONNAIRE

In the current study we conducted a typological analysis of the German uncertainty orientation questionnaire (see Huber, 1993). This questio nnaire contains two almost independent sub-scales (a measure of uncert ainty and an authoritarianism scale) for the classification of uncerta inty- and certainty-oriented persons. Participants were n = 205 adoles cents. A latent class analysis revealed that the two types (uncertaint y- and certainty-oriented persons) postulated by Sorrentino, Short, an d Raynor (1984) could also be identified when not being forced inevita bly by the statistical procedures as proposed by Sorrentino et al. (19 84) or Huber (1993). Mean comparisons according to various variables o f social self-concept (self-monitoring, empathy, assertive ness, and s ocial acceptance) revealed significant differences between both classe s, all of which were in accordance with expectations.