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The world hypotheses scale: rationale, reliability and validity.

M Harris¹, A F Fontana, B N Dowds

¹St. Elizabeth Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.

Journal of Personality Assessment

|October 1, 1977

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This study introduces four world hypotheses (formism, mechanism, organicism, contextualism) and a scale to measure preferences. Individual preferences correlate with career choices, friendships, and therapy success.

Area of Science:

Cognitive Science
Psychology
Philosophy of Science

Background:

Fundamental meaning of events is shaped by cognitive assumptions.
Four distinct world hypotheses exist: formism, mechanism, organicism, and contextualism.

Purpose of the Study:

To theoretically describe four world hypotheses.
To develop and validate a scale measuring individual preferences for these hypotheses.
To investigate behavioral correlates of these preferences.

Main Methods:

Theoretical development of four world hypotheses.
Creation of a 12-item scale for preference measurement.
Empirical studies examining behavioral correlates.

Main Results:

Related Experiment Videos

Significant correlations found between world hypothesis preferences and behavioral outcomes.
Preferences impact career choices.
Preferences influence friendship stability and therapeutic success.

Conclusions:

Individual preferences among world hypotheses (formism, mechanism, organicism, contextualism) are measurable.
These preferences have demonstrable links to significant life choices and outcomes.
Understanding world hypotheses offers insights into diverse human behaviors.