THE RELATIONSHIP OF WRITTEN PRODUCTION OF FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE TO THE METAPHORIC TRIADS TASK: A CONSTRUCT VALIDATION STUDY (VERBAL CREATIVITY, ASSESSMENT)
Abstract
Only recently have psychologists recognized the importance of figurative language in terms of how it relates to cognitive and intellectual functioning. One approach to studying metaphor, based on the idea that metaphorical thinking may be viewed as a cognitive style is the Metaphoric Triads Task (MTT), developed by Kogan, Connor, Gross and Fava (1980). The MTT represents an attempt to measure a stylistic tendency to employ metaphor. Most of the convergent validity evidence presently available links the MTT to laboratory-based tasks. No effort has been made to relate the MTT to the spontaneous production of metaphors in relation to a "real-world" written product. If the MTT measures a stylistic tendency to employ metaphor, this tendency should be reflected in the linguistic domain. The use of metaphor has been linked theoretically to creativity (Arlin, 1975). No efforts have been made to relate the MTT to creative assessments of written products. The present study had independent judges systematically rate 321 essays written by seventh and eighth graders (N = 107) on figurative language and creativity. Sixty-four females and forty-three males were sampled. Each subject wrote three essays on three imaginative topics developed by the investigator. Subjects were administered the MTT and a structured creativity task measuring ideational fluency (Possible Jobs). Intellectual achievement scores were obtained for subjects. The present study provided little support for a "stylistic tendency" to employ figurative language, although MTT performance was significantly related to the quality of figurative instances used. Results indicated that MTT performance was significantly related to verbal creativity but not to ideational fluency. Finally, academic language skills were related to MTT performance or metaphoric sensitivity.
Subject Area
Psychology|Experiments
Recommended Citation
WARD, YVONNE MARTINEZ, "THE RELATIONSHIP OF WRITTEN PRODUCTION OF FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE TO THE METAPHORIC TRIADS TASK: A CONSTRUCT VALIDATION STUDY (VERBAL CREATIVITY, ASSESSMENT)" (1986). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI8615731.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI8615731
