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Assessing Body Appreciation and Body Satisfaction with Statistical Semantics: The Benefit of Using Words Instead of Numbers

Claréus, Benjamin LU (2016) PSYP01 20161
Department of Psychology
Abstract (Swedish)
Body appreciation-unappreciation and body satisfaction-dissatisfaction are in the literature seen as conceptually different, but construct distinction has only been supported using qualitative methods. Because of limits in using Likert-style questionnaires to measure multidimensional constructs, quantitative research has yet to directly demonstrate that it is possible to appreciate the body without being satisfied with it. A new method based on quantifying language with Latent Semantic Analysis was therefore proposed to address these limitations. Semantic measures of body appreciation and body satisfaction were developed in the first study, and assessed for construct validity in a consecutive study. Convergent and discriminant validity of... (More)
Body appreciation-unappreciation and body satisfaction-dissatisfaction are in the literature seen as conceptually different, but construct distinction has only been supported using qualitative methods. Because of limits in using Likert-style questionnaires to measure multidimensional constructs, quantitative research has yet to directly demonstrate that it is possible to appreciate the body without being satisfied with it. A new method based on quantifying language with Latent Semantic Analysis was therefore proposed to address these limitations. Semantic measures of body appreciation and body satisfaction were developed in the first study, and assessed for construct validity in a consecutive study. Convergent and discriminant validity of semantic measures were supported, and words were better than numbers at denoting the conceptual distinction between body appreciationunappreciation and body satisfaction-dissatisfaction. Furthermore, correlating numeric rating scales to language responses indicated that they measured semantic valence rather than body
image constructs. The studies therefore implied several benefits for utilizing a semantic or mixed-method approach to assess body image, including higher construct and face validity compared to only using numeric rating scales. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Claréus, Benjamin LU
supervisor
organization
course
PSYP01 20161
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
body image, body appreciation, body unappreciation, body satisfaction, body dissatisfaction, latent semantic analysis, statistical semantics, semantic excel
language
English
id
8891505
date added to LUP
2016-09-19 09:13:25
date last changed
2016-09-19 09:13:25
@misc{8891505,
  abstract     = {{Body appreciation-unappreciation and body satisfaction-dissatisfaction are in the literature seen as conceptually different, but construct distinction has only been supported using qualitative methods. Because of limits in using Likert-style questionnaires to measure multidimensional constructs, quantitative research has yet to directly demonstrate that it is possible to appreciate the body without being satisfied with it. A new method based on quantifying language with Latent Semantic Analysis was therefore proposed to address these limitations. Semantic measures of body appreciation and body satisfaction were developed in the first study, and assessed for construct validity in a consecutive study. Convergent and discriminant validity of semantic measures were supported, and words were better than numbers at denoting the conceptual distinction between body appreciationunappreciation and body satisfaction-dissatisfaction. Furthermore, correlating numeric rating scales to language responses indicated that they measured semantic valence rather than body
image constructs. The studies therefore implied several benefits for utilizing a semantic or mixed-method approach to assess body image, including higher construct and face validity compared to only using numeric rating scales.}},
  author       = {{Claréus, Benjamin}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Assessing Body Appreciation and Body Satisfaction with Statistical Semantics: The Benefit of Using Words Instead of Numbers}},
  year         = {{2016}},
}