Multidimensional Perceptions of Illness and Injury

Current Res. Soc. Psychol., Vol. 2, No. 30, 1997

Posted: 15 Dec 2010

See all articles by Roselle Wissler

Roselle Wissler

Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, Arizona State University

Allen J. Hart

Amherst College

Michael J. Saks

Arizona State University (ASU) - Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law

Date Written: 1997

Abstract

This paper investigates the multidimensional nature of how we perceive physical illness and injury, and differences in those perceptions based on experience. Multidimensional scaling revealed that similarity judgments of 15 medical conditions made by registered nurses, undergraduate nursing students, and liberal arts students were based primarily on their functional impact to the individual (e.g., correctability and impact on long-term motor and sensory function). The less experienced students, however, also viewed the injuries more in terms of surface similarity (e.g., amputation, disfigurement, and sensory loss) than the registered nurses. The implications of the findings for decision making in personal injury cases are discussed.

Keywords: personal injury, juror decision making, injuries

Suggested Citation

Wissler, Roselle and Hart, Allen J. and Saks, Michael J., Multidimensional Perceptions of Illness and Injury (1997). Current Res. Soc. Psychol., Vol. 2, No. 30, 1997, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1725515

Roselle Wissler (Contact Author)

Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, Arizona State University ( email )

111 E. Taylor St.
Mail code 9520
Phoenix, AZ 85004-4467
United States

Allen J. Hart

Amherst College ( email )

Amherst, MA 01002
United States

Michael J. Saks

Arizona State University (ASU) - Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law ( email )

111 E. Taylor Street
MC-9520
Phoenix, AZ 85004
United States

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