Paired comparisons intransitivity: Is it relatively stable over time?

The present study investigated the long-term stability of response intransitivity in the method of paired comparisons. The test-retest time interval was two years, during which the two groups of subjects progressed from eighth grade to tenth grade (N = 235) and from tenth grade to twelfth grade (N = 175). Intransitivity scores obtained from two administrations of the Minnesota Importance Questionnaire were correlated to determine stability. Results indicated correlations of r = .34 and r = .44 (p ≤ .001) for the eighth graders and twelfth graders, respectively, and provided support for the linear relationship between the two measures of response intransitivity.