No previous investigation has examined in thought-disordered schizophrenia the nature of cognitive complexity-simplicity as defined and measured by Bieri. The current study examined the hypotheses that thought-disordered schizophrenic subjects are significantly more cognitively complex than non-thought-disordered subjects and are significantly less consistent in making interpersonal judgments according to 10 prescribed dimensions. Subjects were 18 schizophrenic and 18 non-schizophrenic psychiatric outpatients randomly selected from files of active clients at a rural community mental health clinic. Each subject was individually administered Bieri's modified repertory grid and immediately retested to attain a measure of cognitive complexity and consistency of interpersonal judgment. Analysis shows that the schizophrenic subjects were significantly less cognitively complex than the non-schizophrenic subjects and suggests an alternative hypothesis; however, the schizophrenic subjects were markedly inconsistent in assignment of interpersonal judgments on the Bieri grid retest. The inconsistent interpersonal judgment evidenced by the schizophrenic subjects can be argued as an index of “loosened construing” as defined by Kelly and elaborated by Bannister.
