ABSTRACT
The Conservatism Scale was developed by Wilson and Patterson (1968) in an effort to answer the criticisms of previous tests outlined in the previous chapter. Beginning with the assumption that most of the difficulties encountered with traditional attitude questionnaires could be traced to the format of their items, it was argued that the central processes occurring when persons respond to these items can be analysed into two sequential stages:
An immediate, emotional response to the central, controversial issue embodied in the statement (the referent).
Suspension of judgment while the qualificatory and justificatory details of the statement are examined.
