Brief Coding Manual for Assessing

Personal Characteristics of Political Leaders

Margaret G. Hermann
Syracuse University

Spring 2001

Conceptual Complexity

Conceptualization: The degree of differentiation which an

individual shows in describing or discussing other people,
places, policies, ideas, or things. The more conceptually
complex, individual car, see varying reasons for a particular
position, is willing to entertain the possibility that there is
ambiguity in the environment, and is flexible .in reacting to
objects or ideas. The more conceptually simple individual, on
the other hand, tends to classify objects and ideas into good-
bad, black-white, either-or dimensions; is unwilling .to
perceive ambiguity in the environment; and reacts rather
unvaryingly to objects and ideas.

Coding Procedures: In coding for conceptual complexity, the

focus is on individual words--words that suggest the speaker
can see different dimensions in the environment as opposed to
words that indicate the speaker sees only a few categories
along which to classify objects and ideas. The following coding
steps are involved in scoring for conceptual complexity.

1.. Check to see if any of the words in the high conceptual

complexity or low conceptual complexity word lists below are
present in the material being coded.

2. If any of the words in either list is present, check the

context to see if its meaning is changed by its use in this
particular statement
(e.g., "not open-minded," "do not feel it is impossible"). Also
check if the speaker is saying the word himself/herself rather
than quoting someone else (e.g., Senator Black said the
following to me, "Only once ...."). If the word is not negated by
the context and if it is spoken by the speaker, code the word
"HC" if it is in the high conceptual complexity word list and
"LC" if it is in the low conceptual complexity word list.
Underline the words to be coded either "HC" or "LC" in the
material being examined and write the appropriate letters
above the underlined words.

Word Lists:

High Conceptual Complexity Words

a admite
în special
aproape
poate
asemenea
a putea
ambiguu
mai mult sau mai putin
între altele
chiar mai mult
aproximativ
adesea
atât cât
unul dintre
aspecte
ansamblu
atăt … cat şi
schimbare (schimbări)
parţial
circumstanţe
(caz) particular (nu cu sensul de privat)
clarifica
poate (cu sensul de posibil)
condiţii
convinge
consideraţii, considerabil
posibil, posibilitate
depinde
probabil, probabilitate
diferenţă, diferit
calificare, a se califica
distinge
discutabil, chestionabil
sau, fie
reconsidera
excepţie
reexamina, reexaminare
in continuare
a reflecta asaupra
în general
revizui
gradat
pare
cu toate acestea, dar
ceva, cineva, careva,
dacă
a tinde, tendinţă
a implica, implicaţie
tendinţă
indicaţie, a indica
incertitudine, incert
intenţionat
variat
.în sensul că
în legătură cu
în acest caz

Also words and phrases indicating an effort to provide

examples to illustrate a point such as: an example of, an
illustration of, for example, namely, such as.

Words and phrases indicating that something is temporary or

occasional as opposed to continual such as: at the moment, at
times, for a time, from time to time, now and then, once in a
while, part of the time, sometimes.
Low Conceptual Complexity Words

dincolo de orice
ireversibil
de fapt
maximum (minimum)
absolut
toate
cele mai multe
întotdeauna
trebuie
oricare, orice, oricine, oricând
necesar, necesitate
a evita
niciodată
cel mai bun
nici unul, nici una
deloc
în nici un caz
nici măcar
nu poate
evident
cu siguranţa, în mod sigur
bineinţeles
clar
numai
obligat
trebuie
complet
pur
comprehensiv
indiferent de
obligatoriu
simplu
in consecinţă
numai
continuu
convinge, convingător
în mod sigur
cu siguranţă
total
determinat
cu adevărat
fără nici o îndoială
adevăr
fiecare
inalterabil
în întregime
necondiţionat
toţi, toate
fals
forever etern
fără egal
complet
incalificabil
imposibil
într-adevăr
orice
indispensabil
indisputabil
inevitabil
insista

Comments on Cooing Procedures:

1. The letters in parentheses in each word list indicate other

forms of the word which can be coded. Thus, for example, the
listing
consider(ation)(ably) suggests "consider," "consideration," and
"considerably."

2. The important thin,; about checking the context for each

word from either list that is found involves the negation of the
word. If the word is preceded by a "not," a high complexity
word can become a low complexity word and vice versa. If
negation occurs, the word should not be coded for conceptual
complexity.

3. The two word lists are not meant to be exhaustive. Coders

may find other words that appear indicative of high or low
complexity. If these words are not negated by the context and
are spoken by the speaker, code them for conceptual
complexity. Coders should add that word to their lists and let
others know about it.. Also circle the word in the material
being coded to indicate that it is a new word and not on the
original word list.

Self-Confidence

Conceptualization: Self-confidence indicates one's sense of

self-importance, an individual's image of his/her ability to cope
adequately with objects and persons in the environment.

Coding Procedures: In coding for self-confidence, the focus is

on the pronouns "my," "myself," "I," "me," "mine." When a
speaker interjects himself/herself into their speeches through
the use of these pronouns, is it as an instigator of an activity,
as an authority figure, or as the recipient of a positive
response from another person or group? In each of these
instances self-confidence is being manifested. The following
coding steps are involved in scoring for self-confidence.

1. Underline the following pronouns in the material being

coded: I, me, my, mine, myself.

2. Check the context to see if any of the following three

conditions are met for each of the underlined pronouns.
a. Self is seen as instigator of an activity; for example, "I think
we-should...," I am going to...," "This is my plan of action ...."
b. Self is seen as an authority figure; for example, "If it were
up to me...," "Let me explain what we mean...," "My position
was accepted."
c. Self is recipient of a positive reward from another person or
group; for example, "I am highly honored by this award," "You
flatter me
with your praise," "I cannot thank you .enough for this honor,"
"I was chosen ...."

3. If any of the conditions is met, the pronoun is coded as

indicating self-confidence or "SC." If none of the conditions are
met, the pronoun is coded as indicating a lack of self-
confidence or "OSC." The appropriate letters should be entered
above the underlined word .on the material being coded. .

Comments on Coding Procedures:

1. Be careful not to code these pronouns when a speaker

quotes another person. We- are interested here only in when a
speaker refers to himself/herself.
Task Orientation

Conceptualization: Task orientation suggests a relative

emphasis in interactions with others on getting the task done
as opposed to focusing on the feelings and needs of others.

Coding Procedures: In coding for task orientation, the focus is

on individual. words--words that indicate work on a task or
instrumental activity and words that center around concern for
another's feelings, 'desires, and satisfaction. The following
coding steps are involved in scoring for task orientation.

1. Check to see if any of the words in the material being coded

are in the task or affect word lists below.

2. . If a word in either list .is present in the material, check the

context of the word to see if its meaning is changed by its use
in the particular sentence (e. g. , "We are not interested in
that task"). Also check if the speaker is saying the word rather
than quoting someone else. If the context does not change the
meaning of the word and it is by the speaker, underline the
word and code it "T" if it is in the task word list or "IP" if it is in
the affect word list. (Note that "IP" is used as the code here
instead of "A" to keep need for affiliation and affect scores
separated.) Write the appropriate letters above the underlined
word.

Word Lists:

Task Words
 realizare,
acţiune, activitate
sfat, consiliere, propunere, recomandare
aplicare
aranjament
sarcină
încercare, a se strădui
a construi
caz, problemă, temă
a urmări
schimbare
decizie
dezvoltare, progres
dificultate
supervizare
eficinţă
efort
luptă
funcţie
implementare
îmbunătăţire, ameliorare
intervenţie
a informa, informare
a iniţia, iniţiativă
investigaţie, experiment, studiu
investiţie
specializare, pregătire
măsură, pas, tactică, mijloc, modalitate
greşeală
a organiza, organizare
rezultat, produs,
plată,
angajament
poziţie
(preparation)
prioritate
procedură, proces
producţie
recruta
raport
decizie
soluţie
stagiu
început
efort
succes, eşec
planificare
muncă
folositor, util
veto

Words relating to goals, policies, or objectives as: aim,

aspiration, cause (noun only), end (as in goal), goal, objective,
plan, platform, policy, program, project, purpose, strategy,
target.

Affect Words

Words or phrases with positive connotation:

amnesty
speranţă
apreciere
ospitalitate
asistenţă
drepturile omului
assure (ance), reassure (ance)
independenţă
premiu, recompensă
innocent,
în beneficiul
justiţie
frate, fratern
eliberare
frati si surori
dregoste, iubire
calm
loialitate
a ţine la cineva
, paradis
utopie
celebrare sarbatoare
răbdare
colaborare
respect
comfort a consola
pace
tovarăş
plăcere
preocupare pentru ceilalţi
 popularitate
încredere
mândrie
felicitări
a încuraja
mulţumit, satisfacţie
reconciliere
cooperare
siguranţă
coordonare
a lăuda
) merit
) securitate (personală)
demnitate
a servi, serviciu
egalitate
sinceritate
bună credinţă
solidaritate
a ierta, iertare
sprijin
fraternal
simpatie
libertate
încredere
prietenie
întelegere
recunoscător, recunostinta
unitate
mână în mână
binevenit
fericire
bunăstare
ajutor
bine
onoare

Words or phrases with negative connotation:

teama
agresiune
; supărat
apartheid;
; rea credinţă
; vărsare de sânge
brainwash (ed);
criminal, a ucide
colonialism
; confuzie
pericol
; a înşela
; dezamăgire, decepţie
descuraja
;domina, dominaţie
exploata
teamă, frică
furie
neajutorare,
foame
imperialism
; insensibil, neânţelegere
oprimare, sărac (referitor la oameni,categorii sociale)
rasism
defăima
egoist
suferinţă
tensiune
; trădător
tribalism
; vexat, victimă
zionism

Comments on Coding Procedures:

1. The letters in parentheses in each list indicate other forms

of the word which can be coded.

2. The important thing about checking the context for each

word in either list that is found centers around the negation of
the word. The context may indicate a tack of interest or
concern with the task or others' satisfactions. We are only
interested in coding when the emphasis is on the task or
others' satisfactions.

3. The two lists are not meant to be exhaustive. Coders may

find other words that appear indicative of a task or affect
orientation. If these
words are not negated by the context and are spoken by the
speaker, code them for this personal characteristic. Add each
new word to the
appropriate list and let other coders know about it. Also circle
the word in the material to indicate a word not originally on
the lists.
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