The Characteristics of semantic space in a sample of young children
- 1 August 1971
- journal article
- Published by Taylor & Francis in Australian Journal of Psychology
- Vol. 23 (2) , 161-165
- https://doi.org/10.1080/00049537108254609
Abstract
Osgood's work on the structure of semantic space suggested that a significant part of meaning could be accounted for by three factors, which he interpreted as Evaluation, Potency, and Activity. Five person concepts were rated by 120 subjects, 6 to 8 years of age, on 20 bipolar semantic scales. The scores on the scales were intercorrelated, and the resulting correlations factor analysed and rotated. The results yielded three connotatively meaningful factors which, in terms of predictions from Osgood's scales, could be characterized as Evaluation, Potency and Activity. These results provide significant support for Osgood's findings, and indicate that the connotative meaning implicit in the responses of these children is similar in kind to that of adults.Keywords
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