Semantic differential assessment of benign, threat, and challenge appraisals of life events.

Abstract
The research was conducted to develop a semantic differential technique for assessing cognitive appraisals of life events. Whereas previous efforts have selected scales on a priori grounds, the present research constructed scales from adjectives employed by sujects to describe five life events. These scales were then used by different subjects to judge event stimuli. Factor analyses revealed that Evaluation and Emotional Response were important dimensions underlying judgments. The midpoints for selected Evaluation and Emotional Response scales were then used to classify appraisals. Resulting categories corresponded to cognitive-phenomenological descriptions of benign-positive, threat, and challenge appraisals. The distribution of appraisals for events was also consistent with logical expectations. A subsequent study revealed expected relationships between appraisals and self-reports of relevant behaviours and experiences. It is concluded that the technique shows promise as an appraisal assessment measure and that its use could contribute to a greater understanding of the relationships among appraisals, coping activities, and adaptational outcomes.

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