Erroneous assumptions underlying Burleson's critique

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Recent studies have indicated that construct differentiation scores, based on the quantity of constructs embedded in written essays, correlate significantly with the total number of words contained in the response. Burleson et. al. have questioned Beatty and Payne's 1984 study, published in Communication Quarterly, on conceptual and methodological grounds. This essay explores the erroneous assumptions underlying Burleson's critique. In addition, the evidence Burleson selects to support the critique is examined in context.