• ARTICLES

A new approach to measuring conflict or inconsistency in grids

Bell, R. C.

Keywords:
repertory grid, conflict, inconsistency, balance, triangular inequality, variation in conflict.

Abstract:
Personal construct oriented researchers and clinicians have long been interested in the notion of conflict or inconsistency of construing in repertory grid data. One approach which seemed theoretically promising but difficult to operationalise was built on Heider’s balance notion, where relationships among three constructs were assessed for consistency. Here, the same underlying notion is employed but the inconsistency is evaluated between one element and two constructs. This has the advantage of a common approach to inconsistency for both elements and constructs. The approach also permits an evaluation of the variation in conflict within grids and may provide a way of examining movement between tightness (where there is no inconsistency) and looseness (where there may be substantial inconsistency) in construing. The approach is illustrated with a previously published grid and some data for groups of grids.