Straight or Bent? An inquiry into rating scales in repertory grids

Ogden's (1932) analysis of opposition is used as the basis for an exploration of the ways in which respondents might use rating scales in repertory grids. The conceptual approach to the problem is described and the conclusion is drawn that the mathematical and semantic aspects of rating scales may not always be aligned. Empirical evidence is presented from a preliminary study which suggests that bipolarity is a more complex issue than might be suspected from a superficial consideration.