An investigation into the validity and clinical usefulness of the five-element rank order repertory grid with children

Swart, Wessel Cornelius

An investigation into the validity and clinical usefulness of the five-element rank order repertory grid with children

Master Thesis

1975

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

Department of Psychology

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Abstract

The main objective of this project was to investigate some aspects of the diagnostic and prognostic validity of the five-element rank order repertory grid (REP 5). This has been attempted at various levels of analysis with 48 nocturnal enuretic boys, aged 8 to 14, undergoing highly standardized hypnotherapy. REP 5, with neutral elements (photographs) and supplied constructs, was administered 5 times over an 8 month period, i.e. at the pretherapy; mid-therapy; end-therapy; 6 week and the 6 month follow-up stages. Each subject acted as his mm control and in addition a nontreatment control group awaiting similar therapy was used. On the basis of current theory and relevant adult research findings, certain hypotheses were formulated to assess the validity of REP 5. This provided a framework within which the task was to determine whether REP 5 could register (a) in a predictable and meaningful way the expected relationships between the relevant variables; and (b) changes in these relationships. The grid performances were also validated against an empirical criterion which was objectively measurable, i.e. nights dry. Results indicated that the REP 5 was reasonably effective in registering in a meaningful way the status and changes in variables during and after therapy. It appeared that the REP 5 has a significant diagnostic and prognostic utility value. Its efficacy as an instrument seems to be mainly limited by the ability of its designer to match the test design with the purposes for which it was intended.