- Are there differences in the content of construct systems for more and less cognitively differentiated employees? 
- Are there content differences in the construct systems of high and low level employees?
- Are there content differences in the construct systems for employees that are more or less upwardly mobile?
- Do gender differences exist in the contents of construct systems for liked and disliked co-workers?

Research Hypotheses

Defines how specific ideas were defined and measured in this study: 
- Upward Mobility 
- Job Level
- Construct System Content

Constructs in This Study

Contains results for the experiment:
- Construct systems for liked and disliked others
- Gender differences

Results: Sypher and Zorn 1988

- When describing liked co-workers, we tend to use more of the same terms/constructs whereas for disliked co-workers we use a more diverse array. 
- People at the lower levels of organizations tend to value more personable and considerate behaviors than people with higher-up level jobs. 
- Females value positive affect toward co-workers more than males do; subsequently, it seems to be related to communication behaviors. 

Key Takeaways From the Study

A study that investigated the differences in our construct systems in how we view liked and disliked co-workers. They looked at the role of cognitive differentiation, gender, job level, and upward mobility. 

Alma College

Relates to how we use traits to describe people we like and don't like

Traits for Liked and Disliked Others

Refers to the number of different dimensions of meaning that a person has available within his or her system of meaning for a certain topic. Can be assessed by counting the number of different constructs used in a judgement. 

Cognitive Differentiation

Sypher, B. D., & Zorn, T. E. (1988). Individual differences and construct system content in descriptions of liked and disliked co-workers. International Journal of Personal Construct Psychology, 1(1), 37-51.

Individual Differences and Construct System Content in Descriptions of Liked and Disliked Co-Workers

This study sought to investigate if there was a greater number of negative terms used to describe people than positive terms. They asked participants to come up with terms to describe people that they like and don't like and know-well and don't know-well.

Terms for Describing Disliked Others is More Differentiated Than Those for Liked Others

We tend to have more knowledge about people we like compared to those that we dislike. Intuitively, one would think if we have more knowledge about various individuals we would see them as being more unique. However, research suggest this is not always true. This series of studies investigated if people tend to view liked others as more similar to themselves and others when compared to disliked others despite having more knowledge about them. 

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