Content scaling of affect in adolescent speech samples.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Psychometrics

Background:

• The Gottschalk-Gleser scales are established for content analysis of speech samples.
• Previous research has not extensively applied these scales to adolescent populations.
• Normative data for adolescents is crucial for accurate clinical and research interpretation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To extend the applicability of the Gottschalk-Gleser scales to adolescent speech samples.
• To establish normative data for emotional and hostility scores in adolescents.
• To explore demographic (age, race, sex) and correlational relationships within this age group.

Main Methods:

• Data collected from 112 adolescents aged 11-18, stratified by age, race, and sex.
• Content analysis of speech samples using the Gottschalk-Gleser scales.
• Correlations computed with Adolescent Life Assessment Checklist, Defense Mechanisms Inventory, and Rotter I-E scale.

Main Results:

• Girls exhibited higher Anxiety and lower scores in Hostility Directed Inward, Ambivalent Hostility, and Social Alienation/Personal Disorganization compared to boys.
• Black adolescents spoke fewer words and showed more Overt Hostility Outward than White adolescents.
• Hostility Directed Inward and Overt Hostility Outward scores increased with age.

Conclusions:

• The Gottschalk-Gleser scales are applicable for adolescent speech content analysis.
• Significant age, sex, and racial differences in emotional and hostility expression were identified.
• Findings provide valuable normative data for adolescents, aiding comparisons with clinical and adult populations.