Resolving binary responses to the Visual Arts Attitude Scale with the Hyperbolic Cosine Model.

Abstract

Recent studies have shown the appropriateness of unfolding models in the analysis of binary disagree-agree responses as opposed to the use of traditional cumulative measurement models. An adaptation of Cohen's (1941) Scale of Attitude towards Aesthetic Value was used for the purpose of attitude measurement toward the visual arts. The study aimed to: (i) examine reliability of the modified scale and consistency of the items; (ii) clarify and facilitate interpretation of results obtained from the Thurstone-type scale; and (iii) improve the quality of attitude measurement. Pupils (n = 131) from two South Australian secondary schools completed two equivalent forms that comprised the Visual Arts Attitude Scale on a single occasion. The study demonstrated the usefulness of the HCM in analysing binary responses and in explaining the disagree responses in terms of their constituent elements. The manifest disagree responses were resolved into two separate latent response curves, which characterised the directions of disagree responses. These were unfolded to correspond to the data, thus providing a description of the effect that is expected as a function of the distances of persons from statements. [ Author abstract]