What do children fear most often?
Following the critical comments of McCathie and Spence (Behaviour Research and Therapy, 29, 495-502, 1991), the present study obtained fear rank orders in children (N = 394) in two different ways. The first fear rank order was based on children's FSSC-R scores. The second fear rank order was based on what children indicated as their most feared object. Each method resulted in a different fear rank order. These results demonstrate that fear rank orders critically depend on the survey method that researchers employ. The theoretical and methodological implications of this finding are discussed.
Muris
P
P
Limburg University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Merckelbach
H
H
Meesters
C
C
Van Lier
P
P
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D002666:Psychology, Child; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012737:Sex Factors