Multi-Item Scale:
Item Text:
People act as if they think you are stupid. (4) [Leute tun so, als hielten sie Sie für dumm. (4)]
Different Answer Format Tested:
Nein
Findings:
What does it mean to “think someone is stupid”?
Four test persons expressed problems with the wording of the item (SY05, SY06, IR05, DA02), and in all cases the core of the misunderstanding was ambiguity about whether it was about "acting stupid" or "being thought stupid". In addition, one of these test persons asked whether it was about someone else behaving in a way that made them think they were stupid, or whether it was about behaving stupidly oneself (IR05). Two other test persons understood the item to mean that they were considered stupid if they said illogical things (SY06, DA02). For another test person it remained unclear whether she had understood the item text. She claimed not to be able to explain how "thinking someone is stupid" is expressed, because she had never experienced anything like it (IR01, answer: rarely).
The other 13 test persons showed a good understanding of the item. Two test persons from Syria and four from Afghanistan stated that "thinking someone is stupid" is expressed primarily in the way one is spoken to. One test person gave the example of professional instructions being repeated several times, even though they were already clear the first time (SY01). Another test person explained that she understood German quite well but could not express herself well in German. This bothered her, for example, when she could not articulate herself well in conversations while shopping and her counterpart behaved as if she did not understand anything (SY04). Another test person also expressed frustration that others thought they did not understand even simple sentences (DA03). One test person explained that the tone of the other person's voice also changed (DA04). Another suggested that Germans pretend not to understand them as an excuse to treat them worse (DA05).
The Arabic-speaking test persons in particular also mentioned cases in which they were made fun of or teased. For example, two test persons said they were taken for fools when someone made fun of them (IR06) or when someone took something from them (IR03) and pretended it was fun. One test person felt sold for stupid when Germans demanded that she stand up for them on the bus and clear the seat (SY03). Another test person said that she was kind-hearted and liked to give, which was often interpreted as naivety (IR04).
Four test persons expressed problems with the wording of the item (SY05, SY06, IR05, DA02), and in all cases the core of the misunderstanding was ambiguity about whether it was about "acting stupid" or "being thought stupid". In addition, one of these test persons asked whether it was about someone else behaving in a way that made them think they were stupid, or whether it was about behaving stupidly oneself (IR05). Two other test persons understood the item to mean that they were considered stupid if they said illogical things (SY06, DA02). For another test person it remained unclear whether she had understood the item text. She claimed not to be able to explain how "thinking someone is stupid" is expressed, because she had never experienced anything like it (IR01, answer: rarely).
The other 13 test persons showed a good understanding of the item. Two test persons from Syria and four from Afghanistan stated that "thinking someone is stupid" is expressed primarily in the way one is spoken to. One test person gave the example of professional instructions being repeated several times, even though they were already clear the first time (SY01). Another test person explained that she understood German quite well but could not express herself well in German. This bothered her, for example, when she could not articulate herself well in conversations while shopping and her counterpart behaved as if she did not understand anything (SY04). Another test person also expressed frustration that others thought they did not understand even simple sentences (DA03). One test person explained that the tone of the other person's voice also changed (DA04). Another suggested that Germans pretend not to understand them as an excuse to treat them worse (DA05).
The Arabic-speaking test persons in particular also mentioned cases in which they were made fun of or teased. For example, two test persons said they were taken for fools when someone made fun of them (IR06) or when someone took something from them (IR03) and pretended it was fun. One test person felt sold for stupid when Germans demanded that she stand up for them on the bus and clear the seat (SY03). Another test person said that she was kind-hearted and liked to give, which was often interpreted as naivety (IR04).
Recommendations:
We recommend formulating the item less abstractly, but by means of an example:
“Someone spoke to you as if you were stupid.”
[„Jemand sprach mit Ihnen, als wären Sie dumm.“]
“Someone spoke to you as if you were stupid.”
[„Jemand sprach mit Ihnen, als wären Sie dumm.“]
Question tested:
true