Compared standardized versus semi-structured approach to measuring intellectual development to identify accurate methods to assess gender differences and similarities. Intellectual development was measured for 101 college freshmen using the Measure of Epistemological Reflection and a semi-structured interview. Results provide strong evidence that…

An unfolding model was selected for the scores on the Scale of Intellectual Development to take into account that, for stage-based instruments, agreement with a statement first increases as the student approaches the stage represented by the statement, then decreases as the student progresses beyond that stage. (Contains 21 references.) (Author)