A cosmetic correction and a suggestion for improvement regarding `indexPolarization`

[MindCartographer]

Hi Mark,

Just a cosmetic correction and a suggestion for improvement regarding...

indexPolarization

In the documentation for this function we read:

the same line is repeated three times ("polarization_total: Grid's overall polarization"); last 2 lines should be replaced by:

• Polarization_constructs: Constructs' polarizations

• Polarization_elements: Elemnents' polarizations

Besides this minor correction in the documentation, I'd like to suggest the addition of 2 new results for this function (both of them are already included in GRIDCOR):

• Polarization_Total_Constructs: average of all constructs polarization values

• Polarization_Total_Elements: average of all elements polarization values

So far, the indexPolarization provides just the Total Polarization for the entire grid, and the individual polarizations for each construct and element.

These 2 new summary polarization values I propose to be added (one for all constructs, and the other one for all elements) provide a usefull overview that will enrich the output of this function.

Thanks in advance, BR José

[markheckmann]

Hi José, thanks for the suggestions. I have a question with regard to the calculation, however. Polarization is the proportion of "extreme" ratings for the whole grid, per construct or per element. So when we calculate the average of the polarization values for constructs or elements, shouldn't we just get the same results as the total polarization?

Let's take the boeker grid as an example:

> l <- indexPolarization(boeker)
l
POLARIZATION OVERALL

  Ratings Extreme Polarization Constructs_Avg Elements_Avg
1     210      26        12.4%          12.4%        12.4%

POLARIZATION BY CONSTRUCT

                             Construct Ratings Extremes Polarization
1  balanced - get along with conflicts      15        2        13.3%
2                  isolated - sociable      15        1         6.7%
3        closely integrated - excluded      15        0         0.0%
4                 discursive - passive      15        2        13.3%
5            open minded - indifferent      15        3        20.0%
6               dreamy - dispassionate      15        1         6.7%
7     practically oriented - depressed      15        1         6.7%
8                    playful - serious      15        0         0.0%
9            socially minded - selfish      15        3        20.0%
10              quarrelsome - peaceful      15        2        13.3%
11                artistic - technical      15        1         6.7%
12              scientific - emotional      15        3        20.0%
13               introvert - extrovert      15        1         6.7%
14          wanderlust - home oriented      15        6        40.0%

POLARIZATION BY ELEMENT

               Element Ratings Extremes Polarization
1                 self      14        2        14.3%
2           ideal self      14        8        57.1%
3               mother      14        0         0.0%
4               father      14        3        21.4%
5                 kurt      14        0         0.0%
6                 karl      14        0         0.0%
7               george      14        0         0.0%
8               martin      14        1         7.1%
9            elizabeth      14        0         0.0%
10           therapist      14        1         7.1%
11               irene      14        7        50.0%
12      childhood self      14        2        14.3%
13 self before illness      14        1         7.1%
14  self with delusion      14        0         0.0%
15     self as dreamer      14        1         7.1%

The total and means of the constructs and elements are then ...

> l$polarization_total$Polarization
[1] 0.1238095
> mean(l$polarization_constructs$Polarization)
[1] 0.1238095
> mean(l$polarization_elements$Polarization)
[1] 0.1238095

Above, we get 12,4% in all cases. Could you please elaborate on how exactly you calculate the total polarization for constructs and elements in GRIDCOR, and outline what I am missing here?

[MindCartographer]

Hi Mark,

Jajajajja You are absolutely right. And that is probably the reason why I finally did not send you that suggestion before. Sorry about that. In fact I see now that those indexes do not exist in GRIDCOR. I simply copied the notes I had collected months ago without double check nor thought. My mistake. Sorry.

To be honest… As I was writing the issue yesterday… I clearly saw that the calculation of the Total Polarization for all constructs (calculated as the count of all extreme values in all constructs divided by the total number of scores) would be the same as the Total Polarization for all elements (calculated as the count of all extreme values in all elements divided by the total number of scores), and also equal to the Total Polarization of the Grid, but whatever the reason I thought that would be different to the average of the construct’s / element’s polarizations.

So please forget about the suggestion and just keep the cosmetic indication.

Thanks, Mark

José