Primary data on the study "Materials aesthetics: A replication and extension study of the conceptual structure".

Marschallek, Barbara E.; Jacobsen, Thomas

Primary data on the study "Materials aesthetics: A replication and extension study of the conceptual structure".

Cognitive Psychology

Authors(s) / Creator(s)

Marschallek, Barbara E.
Jacobsen, Thomas

Abstract

The natural occurrence and choice of specific materials have a significant impact on our experience of the physical environment. In a recent verbal association study, adjectives describing the aesthetics of various materials were recorded. The results of this study indicated that this conceptual structure is primarily dominated by sensory, descriptive terms that are of neutral valence. Furthermore, it did not show a usual primacy of the beauty concept. In the present study, the conceptual structure of the aesthetics of different materials was also elicited, but using a different methodological approach. Following the semantic differential procedure, the final 272 subjects were asked to assess the applicability of the most listed terms in the previous study for the different materials. Furthermore, exploratory data analysis was used to investigate the role of products in the conceptual structure of material aesthetics. Overall, the results of multiple analyses showed a successful replication of the previous results. With regard to the influence of products, no significant results could be found. Taken as a whole, the results of the present study highlight the uniqueness of materials aesthetics and its distinction from the conceptual structures underlying most other (aesthetic) domains.

Persistent Identifier

https://doi.org/10.5160/psychdata.mkba20pr17

Year of Publication

2022

Funding

Citation

Marschallek, B. E. & Jacobsen, T. (2022). Primary data on the study "Materials aesthetics: A replication and extension study of the conceptual structure". (Version 1.0.0) [Data and Documentation]. Trier: Research Data Center at ZPID. https://doi.org/10.5160/psychdata.mkba20pr17

Study Description

Research Questions/Hypotheses:

Research Design:

Mixed standardized survey instrument (combination of differently standardized parts); single measurement

Measurement Instruments/Apparatus:

A detailed description of the methods can be found in the associated publication. The study was conducted online via the web application “SoSci Survey”. Participants were randomly assigned to one of the two conditions (product; no-product). Additionally, each participant was randomly assigned to one of the ten material categories. Participants in the product condition were first asked to write down a product with which they associated the respective material. All participants, that is, regardless of condition, were then asked to rate the applicability of the adjectives to their respective material. The specific instructions (exemplified by the material category glass) were as follows: “Please characterize the material glass. Rate the material glass using the scales below by ticking the value that you think is most applicable. Make your decision spontaneously and please assess all scales, even if some may seem inapplicable.” Participants could give their assessment on a 7-point bipolar scale (1 = does not fit at all to 7 = fits extraordinally well). Participants had the option to omit individual adjectives, but were kindly asked to answer all of them. The order of presentation of the adjectives, as well as the left-right orientation of the scale poles, were randomized. Finally, participants in the product condition were asked how pleasant they find the respective material when used for the product they mentioned at the beginning. Participants could give their assessment on a 7-point bipolar scale (1 = not at all pleasant to 7 = very pleasant). Finally, information on demographic data was requested.

Data Collection Method:

Survey in the absence of an investigator

Online survey

Population:

Students of Helmut Schmidt University/University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg

Survey Time Period:

The data collection took place between October and December 2020 inclusive. Participants could take part in the online survey at a time of their choosing via the link provided to “SoSci Survey”.

Sample:

Convenience sample

Gender Distribution:

Age Distribution: 18-58 years

Spatial Coverage (Country/Region/City): Germany/-/-

Subject Recruitment:

The subjects were made aware of the study several times with the help of a university e-mail distribution list. The link for the online survey was also provided to them via this distribution list. They were remunerated with the help of subject hours.

Sample Size:

272 participants

Return/Drop Out:

mkba20pr17_readme.txt

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