[foubrak]

Now following the previous post about Maslow,
I would like everyone participates to this. It is simple and easy. Let see if we could build a scale to measure Maslow's hierarch needs.

For example: need for esteem

1. Others respect my opinions

Ok let's see what you can come up with for other needs

to measure them you would need to operationalise them. Operationalisation takes a notion that is unclear (e.g., 'self esteem') and then specifies some precise operations to perform so you can measure the construct.

So... We could operationalise 'self esteem' as 'person says they agree with the statement "i like myself"'. That way we can perform the operation (give people the statement and ask them whether they agree or not) and measure the result (yes the person has self esteem or no they do not).

The trouble with the above example is that ones answer to a question isn't a very good operationalisation of the construct. It is good because it does provide a specific operation that gives a specific, measurable result. It is bad because self esteem is far more complex than how much a person is willing to agree with the above statement!

I think you will find that any suggested operational definition of any of Maslow's hierarchy of needs would be very controversial. Much less controversy over the 'low level' needs e.g., food, shelter. Considerable controversy over the 'self actualisation' end of things.

So... Studies that have been done are probably controversial for the operational definitions they employ. Unfortunately... You need to simplify in order to test. Unfortunately... Testing might show you to be false unless you amend your theory such that it is unfalsifyable.

If we found that 99% of the population don't have their needs sufficiently met such that they are doing the self actualising thing then do we say Maslow was wrong or do we say that we have an epidemic of mental illness in our society????

Hard questions...

[Rose3]

find satisfaction in what you choose to do