The Intolerable Wrestle: Words,Numbers, and Meanings

Repertory grids are used by some as the basis, and by others as the vehicle, for the transmission of meanings. This article is based on the premise that meanings are of paramount importance to those working within the framework of personal construct theory and attempts to establish two general propositions: (1) that, despite a considerable measure of content freedom, repertory grids severely constrain respondents; and (2) that it is difficult for meanings to pass through the linguistic constrictions of the grid matrix. Some implications of the argument are subsequently discussed.