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Did Hinkle prove laddered constructs are superordinate? A re-examination of his data suggests not.

Bell, R. C.

Keywords:
Laddering, superordinate-subordinate relationships, implication grids

Abstract:
Laddering is an construct elicitation technique that purports to obtain superordinate constructs. Hinkle, who invented the laddering technique, used an implication grid procedure to test whether the constructs elicited by laddering were superordinate to those used to initiate the laddering procedure. He concluded that laddering did indeed produce superordinate constructs. However the analysis on which this conclusion was based was at the broadest level, including all implicative relationships. No other studies have addressed this issue in this fashion. A re-examination of Hinkle’s data focussing on just those implicative relationships between the initiating (subordinate) and the laddered (superordinate) constructs showed each was as likely to imply the other as the reverse. It is concluded that Hinkle’s data did not provide support for the superordinacy of laddered constructs and an appropriate model to describe the relationship between initiating and laddered constructs remains to be developed.