Things we talk about, how frequently, and to whom: Frequency of topics in everyday conversation as a function of gender, age, and marital status

JEROME R. SEHULSTER
University of Connecticut at Stamford

The questionnaire “Things We Talk About, How Frequently, and to Whom” measured the frequency with which people discussed 27 topics in everyday conversation. Twenty-three topics were subdivided into the topic in which content concerned a spectator perspective or a participant perspective. Factor analyses of 515 people yielded 5 factors for each perspective. Among the topic factors were beauty, worldly issues, everyday issues, hobbies, and sports and partying. Gender and age differences were observed not only in frequency of talk but also with whom people conversed. A detailed analysis of the kinds of spectator sports people talk about was included.