Page 371 - DEDU504_EDUCATIONAL_MEASUREMENT_AND_EVALUATION_ENGLISH

Unit 32 : Measurement of Attitude, Aptitude, Personality and Intelligence

32.1.3 Types of Attitudes Notes
Attitudes are generally classified as follows :
1. Positive Attitude : When a person likes and accepts an object, person, activity or thought and
is attracted towards it and tries to adjust himself according to that object, person, activity or
thought. it is called his positive attitude towards that object, person, activity or thought.
2. Negative Attitude : When a person dislikes and rejects an object, activity or thought and tries
to make distance from that object, person, activity or thought, it is called his negative attitude
towards such object, person, activity or thought.
3. General Attitude : The attitude which is expressed in general or collective term towards an
object, person, activity or thought is called general attitude, such as motherly affection towards
women.
4. Specific Attitude : The attitude which is specifically expressed towards an object, person,
activity or thought is called specific attitude; such as, special love and devotion to one’s own
mother.
32.1.4 Measurement
Measurement of attitude has been undertaken since ancient times in our country, and we have been
dividing it into attitude of sat (goodness), attitude’ of raj (passion), and attitude of tam (darkness).
However, the history of measurement of attitude towards an object, person, activity or thought is
not much long. Measuring attitude in this way was started by Thurston in 1927. Later several
psychologists developed different techniques. These techniques are classified into two types—
Behavioural techniques and Psychological techniques.
(I) Behavioural Techniques
Those techniques are included in behavioural techniques by which day-to-day behaviour of a
person is observed or questions are asked directly from him to measure his attitude. These
techniques are further divided into two parts :
(i) Method of Direct Observation : In this method measurement of attitudes of a person is
done by observing his daily routine. How does a person behave towards an object, person,
activity or thought, is observed by the tester. On the basis of this observation, his attitude
towards that object, person, activity or thought is divided into suitable, unsuitable and
indefinite categories; for example, if a person sings patriotic songs, sees patriotic movies and
reads patriotic literature, then his attitude towards patriotism is expressed.
But this method has its own limitations. Obtaining results from this method is a time-
consuming process. If the person comes to know that he is being observed, he can possibly
hide his undesirable activities and can show off good activities. Besides, it becomes difficult,
as well as impossible in some cases, to observe behaviour of all people.
(ii) Method of Direct Questioning : In this method, the measurement of attitudes of a person is
done by asking questions to him directly. In it, the person is asked questions about an object,
person, activity or thought and his advice is taken. This advice can be favourable, unfavourable
or indefinite. The advice of a person on some national problem or planning is obtained by
asking questions to him directly.
In this method, the attitude of a person can be measured correctly only when such person is
not subject to any pressure and he is willing to respond truthfully. It happens in a few cases
only, so the results obtained from this method are often not valid.

In this method of direct observation, the tester observes the behaviour and activities of a
person directly and determines his attitude on its basis, so its results are quite valid.

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