1957Unpublished venueRequires access

The Measurement of Meaning

Charles E. Osgood, George J. Suci, Percy H. Tannenbaum

Open publisher page 8,710 citations

Abstract

In this pioneering study, the authors deal with the nature and theory of meaning and present a new, objective method for its measurement which they call the semantic differential. This instrument is not a specific test, but rather a general technique of measurement that can be adapted to a wide variety of problems in such areas as clinical psychology, social psychology, linguistics, mass communications, esthetics, and political science. The core of the book is the authors' description, application, and evaluation of this important tool and its far-reaching implications for empirical research.

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What this paper is about

In this pioneering study, the authors deal with the nature and theory of meaning and present a new, objective method for its measurement which they call the semantic differential. This instrument is not a specific test, but rather a general technique of measurement that can be adapted to a wide variety of problems in such areas as clinical psychology, social psychology, linguistics, mass communications, esthetics, and political science. The core of the book is the authors' description, application, and evaluation of this important tool and its far-reaching implications for empirical research.

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OpenAlex reports 8710 citations for this work. Citation counts describe recorded attention and do not establish research quality.

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Available abstract

In this pioneering study, the authors deal with the nature and theory of meaning and present a new, objective method for its measurement which they call the semantic differential. This instrument is not a specific test, but rather a general technique of measurement that can be adapted to a wide variety of problems in such areas as clinical psychology, social psychology, linguistics, mass communications, esthetics, and political science. The core of the book is the authors' description, application, and evaluation of this important tool and its far-reaching implications for empirical research.

Key concepts: Meaning (existential), Variety (cybernetics), Test (biology), Epistemology, Semantic differential, Empirical research, Psychology, Politics

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