DIRECT AND INDIRECT METHODS TO MEASURE ATTITUDES TOWARD PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, WITH AN EXEGESIS OF THE ERROR-CHOICE TEST METHOD

Methods to measure attitudes toward persons with disabilities can be divided into direct and indirect methods. Nine direct methods are discussed, all of which are limited by threats to the validity of the resultant data. A discussion of four indirect methods follows with an exegesis of a unique disguised method: the error-choice test method. Indirect methods should be useful for the investigation of attitudes toward persons with disabilities, particularly among service providers whose responses to a direct method may be biased by respondent sensitization, response styles, and reactive effects.