QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE MEASURES OF BEHAVIOR IN ADOLESCENT GIRLS

Social experiences are central to the adolescent experience (Hartup & Stevens, 1997). The current study examined how this emphasis on social behavior would be reflected in both quantitative and qualitative measures. To do this, 57 adolescent girls (aged 11-19 years) completed questionnaires about their achievements and social and relaxation activities. They also composed a sample of a personal experience. Results demonstrated that social activities were among the most time-consuming and enjoyable activities of their day and were engaged in voluntarily. Analysis of their writing samples demonstrated that adolescents incorporated more affiliation themes than achievement or power themes. However, quantitative measures did not predict qualitative measures. Such findings demonstrate the importance of incorporating multiple methods of measurement in adolescent research.