The Self: Definitional and Methodological Issues (Studying the Self (Dis))

What are the characteristics and dimensions of the self? Is there a “best” way to measure the self? How does the researcher’s definition of the self affect the choice of research measure and methods? These are the questions addressed by this book.

Unlike previous books on the self, this one provides a systematic analysis of the theoretical and methodological issues involved. It offers a description of several alternative methods for studying the self, and discussions of the advantages and disadvantages of these different approaches. Emphasized here are the phenomenological and experiential nature of the self, its multidimensionality and hierarchical structure, and the relationship between defining and measuring the self. Among the methodological issues addressed are the impact of significant others on the self, the factors that affect the process of reporting about the self, between-group comparison of self-structure, the structure of the self in relationship to others, and the effects of differing cultural contexts.