The cognitive word structure game:a tool for occupational research

Abstract

A pilot study (M.Sc. dissertation) had revealed inadequacies in methodologies for studying occupations and a model was developed composed of three parts: the Job, the Man, and the Environment. This study and a review of the literature showed that the definition and measurement of Man was the most important problem. A new technique has been developed called the Cognitive World Structure Game, based on influences from existential philosophy, sociometrics and personal distance, and contributions from psychometrics and social psychology. The Game attempts to look at Man with fewer assumptions than the usual measures. It does not postulate the existence of traits or states, nor does it explore semantic weightings. It does, however, assume that subjects structure their environment or cognitive world using at least one of a number of ways and on one of a number of dimensions. The Game presumes to simulate the subject's cognitive structure, itself expressed in terms of his environment and the values he has allocated to its elements. This is done by asking the subject to arrange labelled blocks on a check board. The patterns are scored for type and composition via a computer programme. The Game has contributed a much-needed alternative to traditional types of stimulus sets found in psychometrics and its use has led to new ways of understanding Man. Of prime importance is the fundamental assumption that the nature of Man, the way he is, is the way he interacts with his environment. Also, the Game deals more successfully with the problem of consistency of personality. Laboratory and field studies have been carried out to evaluate the Game and its underlying assumption using both normative and ipsative approaches. It was used to distinguish between members of different occupations, to understand an organisation's structure and dynamics, and also as an aid to occupational counselling. There are very strong indications that it could be a useful tool in a counselling situation, particularly where there are time constraints.