Construct elicitation techniques and the production of interpersonal concepts in children

Explorations into the development of children's constructs have failed to explore systematically the effects of sorting methods upon the content of a child's constructs. This study addressed this weakness by investigating the effects of construct elicitation techniques on the content of children's constructs. Utilizing kindergarten, second, fourth, and sixth grade subjects, it was found that dyadic sorting and free response methods of construct elicitation differentially affect the types of constructs produced. Dyadic sorting led to fewer behavioral constructs for the kindergarten and second grade groups while having a similar effect upon personality constructs for the fourth grade group. By the sixth grade, the method effect had disappeared. The results were discussed in terms of the implications for free response and dyadic sorting methods of construct elicitation with children.