| Abstract: | 3 scales measuring different aspects of attitudes toward disabled persons were translated into Turkish and administered to 212 college students at Gazi Institute, Ankara. These data were compared with findings from a sample of 269 New York college students previously reported by Siller and Chipman. Results confirmed the prediction of greater nonacceptance of disabled persons in the Turkish sample. Means from the Attitude Toward Disabled Persons scale and the Social Distance Scale differentiated the samples beyond the .001 level. However, the Feeling Check List data showed a reversal, with the Turkish sample rating significantly more positive feelings toward 6 of 7 disability categories. The latter finding is discussed together with results from the Social Distance Scale as possible consequences of different “public personality” systems. |
