CVCO: Overbooked - Motivation Analysis

Since the 1960s The Picture Identification Test (PIT) has been administered to several thousand subjects. From the beginning of its use the PIT has shown that normal people from widely varying demographic populations tend to agree on how needs combine in facial expressions In the 1980s a relatively new mathematical statistical procedure called multi dimensional scaling (MDS) was applied to PIT data. This report presents evidence of the general nature of the structural model derived from MDS analyses of PIT inter-need association data.

A Quick Review of Multi Dimensional Scaling Applications (for those who want a long refresher, see Synchronic Motivation System

A mileage chart can provide us with a simple example of MDS analysis. If we select a set of cities and obtain the mileage distance between each pair of cities we have a matrix of distance measures. If we submit this matrix to an MDS computer program it will show us how the entire set of distance measures between pairs of cities can be simplified by locating each city on a two dimensional table. The two dimensional table will look suspiciously like a map where the cities are located on an east-west and north-south grid. Our MDS table is like a map although it might differ slightly from a map drawn from straight line measures of distances via satellite (since our mileage measures were made from crooked roads and bypasses around big cities).

The PIT inter need association measures provide us with a distance matrix composed of the differences (distances) between a subject's ratings of the 22 PIT needs. The 22 needs produce a matrix of 231 unique pairs of needs. Thus, we have a measure of the subject's perception of the similarities between the (synchronic) expression of each pair of needs Quite a lot to remember. But hold on and take heart: The cavalry, in the form of MDS, is coming to our rescue.

The three dimensional MDS analysis of 400 male and 400 female college students produced a structure we call the PIT target model. The three dimensions are labeled the Combative Dimension, the Personal-Social Dimension, and the Competitive Dimension. Detailed descriptions of the structures of each of these three dimensions may be studied by clicking the above underlined reports. Briefly reviewed here, the combative dimension has assertive ego needs in the active area and needs that inhibit or oppose combative behavior in the opposite (non combative) area. The personal-social dimension has needs that promote personal and social activities in the active area and needs that oppose or modify such activities in the opposite (impersonal) area. The competitive dimension has needs that promote and motivate competitive activity in the active area and needs that oppose or inhibit competitive activity in the opposite noncompetitive area. (Also, see the Target Model). One might think of the three dimensions as forming a globe with three axes representing the combative, personal-social, and competitive dimensions (see the Motivation-Analysis home page logo). During the 1980s and 1990s the present form of the PIT was administered to several thousand subjects with differing demographic characteristics. The target model continued to be a reliable model for the synchronic dimensional structure of individuals and groups during this time. Below are the descriptions of some of these groups and the results of PIT MDS analyses of the inter-need associations of the groups.

No subjects in any of the groups listed below were members of the target model group. Group 1. N = 50 females: College students with no record of psychological, academic, or disciplinary problems during four years of undergraduate tenure. Data collected for dissertation titled A personal need system analysis of parasuicidal behavior in Male and Female College Students by Edward Steven Gold, completed at William and Mary in 1985. Group 2. N = 100 males. Subjects who completed the PIT as entering college freshmen and who had no record of psychological, academic, or disciplinary problems through their junior year (when dissertation was conducted). Data collected for dissertation titled The personal need systems of college students: An analysis of the poorly adjusted freshman by Kenneth Michael Saad, completed at William and Mary in 1990. Group 3 N = 53 males: College undergraduates who volunteered to take a self-report survey assessing intimacy capacity. PIT data collected for a dissertation titled Development and validation of a self-report inventory to measure capacity for intimacy in close relations by Deanna Lynne Kraus, completed at William and Mary in 1989. Group 4 N = 72 females: Same description as Group 3 except for N and gender of subjects. Group 5 N = 146 females. Professional women (professors, lawyers, physicians) surveyed and tested for a dissertation titled Intimacy capacity in professional women: Need structures and antecedent family variables by Janet Lewis Finch, completed at William and Mary in 1986. Group 6 N = 99 females: Entering college Hispanic students who had received academic scholarships to American universities. PIT data collected for dissertation titled The personal motivation system of Hispanic female students as measured by the Picture Identification Test by Martha Lazcano Muguira, completed at William and Mary in 1991. Group 7 N = 57 females: Entering college freshmen self-classified as Hispanic who were enrolled as regular admissions in American universities (see Group 6 above). Group 8 N = 36 males: Data collected at a university in India by Patricia Ondercin-Frisch, Ph.D. Subjects were English speaking students who were natives of India. Group 9 N = 40 females: Same description as for Group 8 except for N and gender of subjects. Group 10 N = 20 males: Set A stimulus pictures (artists' facial paintings). Subjects were Virginia Commonwealth University students tested with experimental PIT picture stimuli. Picture stimuli were paintings of faces excerpted from paintings by famous artists. Subjects had a wider age range than is typical of most college students. Data collected by Molly Brunk, Ph.D. Group 11 N = 24 females. Set A artists' facial paintings. See description for Group 10. Group 12 N = 18 males: Set B, artists' facial paintings. Same description as Group 10 except a different set (Set B) of artists' paintings. Group 13 N = 26 females: Set B, artists' facial paintings. See Group 10 description. Group 14 N = 18 males. Set C, artists' facial paintings. See Group 10 description. Group 15 N = 24 females: Set C, artists' facial paintings. See Group 10 description.

Group	Combative Dimension	Personal-Social Dimension	Competitive Dimension
1.	.97	.96	.96
2.	.97	.96	.91
3.	.98	.93	.91
4.	.95	.89	.92
5.	.96	.92	.88
6.	.97	.77	.73
7.	.85	.81	.86
8.	.94	.79	.76
9.	.94	.76	.59
10.	.90	.84	.92
11.	.88	.91	.88
12.	.89	.93	.76
13.	.88	.89	.80
14.	.90	.89	.82
15.	.90	92	.88

Pearson correlation coefficients between the group MDS dimension scales and the corresponding target model dimension scales were generally high. For the combative dimension, 11 of the combative dimension coefficients were .90 or above and the other four were in the .80s. For the personal-social dimension, seven correlations were in the .90s, five were in the .80s, and 3 were in the .70s. For the competitive dimension, five were in the .90s, six were in the .80s, three were in the .70s, and one was .59. The correlation coefficients were thus generally higher for the combative dimension with the personal-social and competitive dimensions second and third. These results are in accord with the MDS weights of the three dimensions which consistently show the combative dimension to be the largest (and most powerful), with the personal-social second, and the competitive third. The selected normal groups (Groups 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5) had the highest average correlation coefficients with the target model. Groups 6, 7, 8, and 9 had different ethnic backgrounds (Hispanic and Asian Indian) These ethnic groups had combative dimension correlations in the .90s but were a little weaker for the personal-social and competitive dimensions (all but one in the .70s or .80s). No convincing explanations for these minor dissimilarities come to mind although language differences may have played a role. Perhaps combative motives and communications are more universally recognized and understood than other types of motivation. The generally high correlations for the groups tested with artists' paintings of facial expressions (Groups 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15) is noteworthy. Great artists seem to portray motives in their paintings in ways that communicate to viewers. These results demonstrate the generality of communication of motives and intentions by facial expressions. Not included in this report are a number of studies showing that different sets of facial photographs produce dimensional structures very similar to the photos used to produce the target model. We may conclude from the data presented in this study that the PIT target model is a robust, reliable, and general model of the organization of the synchronic motivation systems of normal people.

The Picture Identification Test (PIT) is a psychological instrument based on the Murray need system. The PIT uses multidimensional scaling to provide an analysis of needs (motives). It indicates needs that are being met or expressed ineffectively. The PIT can be administered to subjects ages twelve and older.

For further information about the Picture Identification Test contact
Jay L. Chambers, PhD: ibis@kalexres.kendal.org
160 Kendal Drive Apartment #205
Lexington, Virginia 24450
Phone: 540.462.3874

URL: http://www.overbooked.org/motivation/ma/targetreliability.html

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Overbooked is a volunteer project undertaken by Ann Chambers Theis,
Collection Management Administrator, Chesterfield County (VA) Public Library
P.O. Box 297, Chesterfield, VA, 23832. Phone: 804.748.1760.

The Reliability and Generality of the Picture Identification Test Target Model

Motivation Analysis is looking for a few good minds

New - an essay discussing basic problems of world cultures: "The Combative Dominance Syndrome"

The Reliability and Generality of the Picture Identification Test Target Model

Motivation Analysis is looking for a few good minds New - an essay discussing basic problems of world cultures: "The Combative Dominance Syndrome"

Motivation Analysis is looking for a few good minds

New - an essay discussing basic problems of world cultures: "The Combative Dominance Syndrome"