Abstract
The study was designed to intercorrelate three classes of personal space measures: a naturalistic measure in which persons did not know personal space was being measured; two role-played measures in which participants approached or were approached by a stimulus person; and the Comfortable Interpersonal Distance Scale (CID), a series of four paper and pencil measures of personal space. Results showed significant correlations within each class of measurement but negligible correlations between classes. The lack of overlap in assessment techniques calls into question the validity of measures other than those obtained naturalistically.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
ARONOW, E., REZNIKOFF, M., & TYRON, W. 1977. On construct validity of the concept of interpersonal distance. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 45, 550.
DOSEY, M.A., & MEISELS, M. 1969. Personal space and self-protection. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 11, 93–97.
DUKE, M.P., & NOWICKI, S. Jr. 1972. A new measure and social-learning model for interpersonal distance. Journal of Experimental Research in Personality, 6, 119–132.
EVANS, G.W., & HOWARD, R.B. 1973. Personal space. Psychological Bulletin, 80, 334–344.
FORSTON, R.F., & LARSON, C.U. 1968. The dynamics of space: An experimental study in proxemic behavior among Latin Americans and North Americans. Journal of Communication, 18, 109–116.
FRANKEL, A.S., & BARRETT, J. 1971. Variations in personal space as a function of authority, self-esteem, and racial characteristics of a stimulus situation. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 37, 95–98.
FRY, A.M., & WILLIS, F.N. 1971. Invasion of personal space as a function of the age of the invader. The Psychological Record, 21, 385–389.
HALL, E.T. 1963. A system for the notation of proxemic behavior. American Anthropologist, 65, 1003–1026.
HALL, E.T. 1966. The hidden dimension. New York: Doubleday.
HAYDUK, L.A. 1978. Personal space: An evaluative and orienting overview. Psychological Bulletin, 85, 117–134.
HOROWITZ, M.J. 1968. Spatial behavior and psychopathology. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 146, 24–35.
KEUTHE, J.L. 1962. Social schemas. Journal ofAbnormal and Social Psychology, 64, 31–38.
LEVINGER, G., & GUNNER, J. 1967. The interpersonal grid: I. Felt and tape technique for measurement of social behavior. Psychonomic Science, 8, 173–174.
LITTLE, K.B. 1965. Personal space. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 1, 237–247.
MEHRABIAN, A. 1969. Significance of posture and position in the communication of attitude and status relationships. Psychological Bulletin, 71, 359–371.
MEISELS, M., & GUARDO, C.J. 1969. Development of personal space schematas. Child Development, 40, 1167–1178.
PEDERSON, D.M., & SHEARS, L.M. 1973. A review of personal space research in the framework of general system theory. Psychological Bulletin, 80, 367–388.
SOMMER, R. 1959. Studies in personal space. Sociometry, 22, 247–260.
SOMMER, R. 1967. Small group ecology. Psychological Bulletin, 67, 145–152.
SOMMER, R. 1969. Personal space: The behavioral basis of design. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall.
WATSON, O.M., & GRAVES, T.D. 1966. Quantitative research in proxemic behavior. American Anthropologist, 68, 971–985.
WHITE, M.J., & LIRA, F.T. 1978. A comparison of two measures of interpersonal distance. The Journal of Social Psychology, 104, 151–152.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Slane, S., Petruska, R. & Cheyfitz, S. Personal Space Measurement: A Validational Comparison. Psychol Rec 31, 145–151 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03394730
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03394730