MacArthur Ladder Task

Version: v1 (current)

A subjective social status measure assessing perceived socioeconomic position in society.

Overview

The MacArthur Scale of Subjective Social Status (MacArthur Ladder) presents a 10-rung ladder representing social hierarchy. Participants indicate where they see themselves relative to others in terms of income, education, and occupation. Unlike objective SES measures (actual income, education level), this captures subjective perception of social standing.

Research shows subjective social status predicts health outcomes, stress, and wellbeing beyond objective SES measures, making it a valuable addition to health and social psychology studies.

Scientific Background

Classic Findings:

• Health Prediction: Subjective SES predicts health outcomes independent of objective SES
• Cultural Variation: Reference groups vary by community (neighborhood vs. nation)
• Psychological Impact: Lower subjective status associated with increased stress and inflammation

Seminal Paper:

• Adler, Epel, Castellazzo, & Ickovics (2000): Relationship of subjective and objective social status with psychological and physiological functioning

Why Researchers Use This Task

1. Health Psychology: Predict health outcomes and health behaviors
2. Stress Research: Measure perceived social standing as a stressor
3. Social Epidemiology: Complement objective SES indicators
4. Community Studies: Assess relative standing within communities
5. Intervention Research: Track changes in perceived status

Where to Configure

Study Form → Tasks → MacArthur Ladder → Configure.

Configuration Parameters

Parameter	Type	Default	Description
Reference Group	string	'society'	'society' (national) or 'community' (local)
Number of Rungs	number	10	Number of ladder rungs (typically 10)

Participant Flow

1. The participant sees a visual ladder with numbered rungs (1 at the bottom, 10 at the top).
2. Instructions explain that the top represents people with the most money, education, and respected jobs, while the bottom represents people with the least.
3. The participant clicks or taps the rung that best represents their perceived position.
4. The selected rung is highlighted and the participant clicks the button to confirm and advance.

Data Output

Markers and Responses

The task records high-resolution timestamps in two separate collections:

Markers (stimulus_shown):

{
  "type": "stimulus_shown",
  "ts": "2024-01-01T00:00:01.000Z",
  "hr": 1234.56,
  "data": {
    "trial": 1
  }
}

Markers (ladder_click):

{
  "type": "ladder_click",
  "ts": "2024-01-01T00:00:05.000Z",
  "hr": 5234.56,
  "data": {
    "x_pct": 50.2,
    "y_pct": 35.8
  }
}

Response Data:

{
  "x_pct": 50.2,
  "y_pct": 35.8
}

The x_pct and y_pct fields represent the click position as percentages (0-100) on the ladder image. The vertical position (y_pct) corresponds to the selected rung, where lower values indicate higher perceived social status.

This task does not produce a summary artifact. The single response value is stored directly in the responses collection.

Design Recommendations

• Reference Group: Choose "society" for national-level comparisons or "community" for local-level comparisons. Use the same reference group across all participants for consistency.
• Instructions: Use the standard MacArthur Ladder instructions to ensure comparability with published norms.
• Placement in Study: Place this task early in the session before tasks that might influence self-perception (e.g., after difficult cognitive tasks, participants may rate themselves lower).
• Complement with Objective Measures: Pair with objective SES measures (income, education) to compare subjective and objective status.

Common Issues and Solutions

Issue	Solution
Participants unsure what the ladder represents	Ensure instructions clearly describe the top and bottom of the ladder
Responses cluster at the middle	This is typical; consider whether a finer scale is needed for your research question
Cultural interpretation varies	Specify the reference group clearly; consider pilot testing instructions with your population

References

• Adler, N. E., Epel, E. S., Castellazzo, G., & Ickovics, J. R. (2000). Relationship of subjective and objective social status with psychological and physiological functioning. Health Psychology, 19(6), 586-592.
• Singh-Manoux, A., Marmot, M. G., & Adler, N. E. (2005). Does subjective social status predict health and change in health status better than objective status? Psychosomatic Medicine, 67(6), 855-861.