The Difference in Category Norms Between New South Wales and Queensland

McMillan, Blake (2011) The Difference in Category Norms Between New South Wales and Queensland. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)


Abstract

Category norms are obtained by asking people to think of members of a given category title. Previous studies have demonstrated that residential location impacts the relevance, and therefore accuracy, of earlier category norms within the current Australian population. Consequently, the ability to apply category norms effectively in future research depends on researchers having access to norms which are current and representative of the population being assessed. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to examine potential differences in category norms generated by residents of the Australian states of New South Wales and Queensland. This study compared the differences in all responses generated by each group, highlighting categories which are appropriate when examining both New South Wales and Queensland populations, and identifying those which are not appropriate. The Category List Questionnaire was used to collect the normative data from a voluntary convenience sample of 66 participants. The participants were divided into either the New South Wales group (n = 33) or the Queensland group (n = 33) based on their postcode. The New South Wales group contained participants between the ages of 21 and 79 years (inclusive)with a mean age of 45.2 years (SD = 15.58 years, 48% females, 52% males). The Queensland group contained participants between the ages of 21 and 79 years (inclusive)with a mean age of 45.8 years (SD = 16.32 years, 48% females, 52% males). A sequence of Chi-Square Tests of Independence using Fisher’s Exact Transformation were conducted between the New South Wales and Queensland groups to examine and compare the responses generated for each category. The study found a significantly (p < .05) different pattern of responses to 15 of the 136 categories examined. Therefore, approximately 11% of categories generated different response patterns between the Australian states of New South Wales and Queensland. For some categories, these findings were considered to be predictable, however, for others, they were not. Ultimately, no overall pattern of predictability emerged between the New South Wales and Queensland populations. These findings demonstrate and reinforce the importance of exercising caution when selecting category norms for use in cross-location studies. Meaningful differences in location specific dimensions may increase the likelihood of obtaining unexpected or unpredictable results if these differences are not fully understood. In terms of clinical implications, this study has reinforced the need for category norms to be updated regularly across a variety of locations, and will assist future researchers in the selection of categories which are generalisable across the Australian population, and avoid those which are not.


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Item Type: Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours)
Item Status: Live Archive
Additional Information: Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address
Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: Historic - Faculty of Sciences - Department of Psychology (Up to 30 Jun 2013)
Supervisors: Liam Hendry
Qualification: Bachelor of Science (Honours)
Date Deposited: 16 Oct 2025 01:37
Last Modified: 16 Oct 2025 01:37
Fields of Research (2008): 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified
Fields of Research (2020): 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified
URI: https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52569

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