ABSTRACT
This chapter examines sex as a subject variable and as a stimulus variable using the framework of personal construct theory. Personal construct theory can be used to evaluate sex as a stimulus variable by considering the construct of male/female as being a superordinate construct. Personal construct theory can also examine sex as a subject variable by evaluating the constructs developed by males and females. Although this study examined gender differences rather than sex differences, it offers a methodological format which can be applied to sex as a subject variable. However, Ryle and Lunghi examined groups of protocols developed by males and by females in order to determine subject sex differences in the construing of the superordinate construct of male/female. The purpose of this study is to investigate the commonalities which exist in the perceptions of men and the perceptions of women and to investigate the commonalities in the perceptions held by male subjects and held by female subjects.
