The Meaning of Self-in-Role: A Modified Measure of Role-Identity

• Published in: Social forces Vol. 71; no. 2; pp. 485 - 501
• Main Author: Callero, Peter L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chapel Hill, N.C The University of North Carolina Press 01-12-1992; University of North Carolina Press; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Adjectives; Analysis; Blood donation; Discriminant analysis; Discriminants; Evaluation; Gender identity; Gender roles; Identity; Interactionism; Measurement (role identity); Measures; Measures (Instruments); Questionnaires; Role; Role identity; Roles; Self; Self Concept; Self evaluation; Social psychology; Social role; Social Science
• ISSN: 0037-7732; 1534-7605
• DOI: 10.1093/sf/71.2.485

The Burke-Tully technique for the measurement of role-identity offers a theoretically sophisticated quantitative measure of self-in-role. Since its development it has been used to explain a wide range of behaviors from a symbolic interactionist perspective. Three general problem areas, however, challenge its reliability and validity: (1) the identification of counteridentities, (2) the use of adjectives to assess meaning, and (3) cumbersome and lengthy implementation and construction procedures. In this study a modified measure of self-in-role is developed that avoids these three areas. An empirical application of the modified measure demonstrates relatively strong construct validity and a predictive power equal to that of the Burke-Tully technique.