Academic risk-taking refers to students’ engagement under uncertainty about the correctness of their contributions. It reflects a learning strategy of accepting potential errors to deepen understanding and is associated with higher learning success. The Academic Risk-Taking Scale measures such behaviors, but its validity depends on demonstrating measurement invariance across relevant groups. This study examined measurement invariance across administration modes, recruitment strategies, and academic disciplines using MG-CFA on data from N = 1,259 students. Strict measurement invariance was established for recruitment mode and academic disciplines, and partial measurement invariance, from the scalar level onward, for administration mode. This level of measurement invariance permitted meaningful latent mean comparisons, revealing group differences across administration modes, recruitment strategies, and academic disciplines. These results indicate that the scale can be reliably applied across these groups, supporting its use in diverse research contexts and providing a foundation for further investigations into patterns of academic risk-taking.
Although men consistently endorse rape myths at higher rates than women, valid gender comparisons require evidence that instruments function equivalently across groups. This study evaluates the psychometric properties and gender-based measurement invariance of the “She Asked For It” subscale from the Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance Scale - Subtle (IRMA-S) in a Spanish community sample ( N = 1,003; 50.7% men). Analyses included Multi-Group Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Item Response Theory-based approaches, specifically Differential Item Functioning (DIF) and Differential Response Functioning (DRF). At the subscale level, analyses supported metric invariance and satisfactory internal consistency. However, five of six items exhibited significant DIF, predominantly uniform in nature. DRF analyses indicated that the cumulative impact of item-level DIF on expected total scores was modest, particularly for respondents with moderate levels of rape myth acceptance. These findings highlight the value of multi-method approaches to measurement invariance and underscore the need for cautious interpretation of raw gender differences in rape myth acceptance.
Although scholars have long depicted gender as multidimensional, many surveys have historically captured gender coarsely. A recent methodological advancement has been gradational gender scales—unipolar scales that ask about self-rated femininity and masculinity. Nonetheless, these scales have yet to receive wider attention outside of the U.S. and Europe. Using data collected by the Social Science Japan Data Archive (SSJDA) in October 2023 and February 2024, we evaluate response patterns to gradational gender scales among Japanese respondents. We find high levels of nonresponse for these questions, and responses are less bimodally distributed and less extreme in value than in other country contexts. Respondents are particularly less likely to provide answers to scales that are “gender-atypical”—e.g., masculinity for women, and femininity for men. These findings reveal large differences in response patterns in a Japanese sample, indicating the need and promise for future research when administering gradational gender scales in different contexts.
Substantial efforts have been made to develop comprehensive taxonomies of personality traits in many languages. Nevertheless, given that what is important and salient in individuals’ lived experience might be changing over time, this raises the question about the long-term usefulness of ‘off-the-shelf’ taxonomies developed decades ago. In the current study we used a bottom-up approach to create a large sample-specific taxonomy of personality terms. We subsequently examined the overlap and sensitivity of this taxonomy compared to an established trait taxonomy in the same language. Overall, we found that the two taxonomies only showed limited overlap with a pronounced divergence in emotionality (Neuroticism) and social aspects (Agreeableness) of personality. In addition to this, we found that while the personality assessment extracted from self-descriptions using the established taxonomy showed alignment with participants’ self-rated personality, especially Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism, the sample-specific taxonomy showed a significantly greater alignment between text-based and self-rated personality. In summary, our current study highlights the need to extend our thinking about the psycholexical hypothesis, moving away from assumptions of time invariant language encoding to more explicitly recognizing temporal and sample-specific dynamics underpinning the expression and use of personality trait terms.
Reliable instruments are essential for studying perceptions of individuals convicted of sexual offences across cultural contexts. This study evaluates the psychometric properties of the Perceptions of Sex Offenders Scale (PSO) among Norwegian students in nursing, social education, social work, and police education ( N = 282). Using confirmatory factor analysis, we tested the fit of the PSO’s original three-factor structure. The model showed mixed fit (RMSEA = .072; SRMR = .072; CFI = .86; TLI = .84). Internal consistency was satisfactory for Sentencing and Management and Stereotype Endorsement (α = .82 and .70), but low for Risk Perception (α = .53). Internal validity indices were uneven: composite reliability was acceptable for Sentencing and Management and Stereotype Endorsement (CR = .89 and .71), but not for Risk Perception (CR = .58), and AVE values were below recommended thresholds across factors, particularly for Risk Perception (AVE = .227). Free-text responses indicated that participants primarily had rape and child sexual abuse in mind when responding to the PSO. Overall, the PSO shows promise in a Norwegian student context, but the Risk Perception dimension appears to require refinement before the scale can be used confidently for research and educational purposes.
The current high rate of academic dropout in the university system necessitates early identification of first-year students' intentions to drop out to detect potential risk cases. This paper reports a linguistic adaptation of the revised version of the Early University Dropout Intentions Questionnaire (EUDIQ-R) and an analysis of its psychometric properties in an Argentine population. Participants were 747 first-year university students from Argentina. The instrument was adapted to the local idiom. The internal three-factor structure of the EUDIQ-R was then verified through confirmatory factor analysis. The internal consistency was adequate. Factorial invariance analysis verified the metric equivalence of the instrument's structure between samples of students from Argentina and Spain. Finally, evidence of concurrent validity was obtained using an instrument that assesses academic engagement. This study provides adequate evidence of the validity and reliability of the EUDIQ-R, which can be used to identify early dropout intentions in first-year university students.
Relationship disillusionment—perceiving that one’s romantic relationship is not meeting expectations and getting worse and viewing one’s spouse/partner in an increasingly negative light—has been shown to predict likelihood of relationship breakup, independent of relationship satisfaction, commitment, and duration. Current versions of the Relationship Disillusionment Scale (RDS), the leading measure in this area, have 11 or more items. The present research examined properties (factor loadings, internal consistency and test-retest reliability, convergent and concurrent criterion validity, and dyadic correlations) of full-length RDS measures in three datasets to identify a small number of items that could comprise a psychometrically sound short form of the RDS. A three-item RDS version emerged, which performed comparably well to full-length versions. Hence, we recommend the RDS-3 for use in future research when survey length is an issue (e.g., daily diary studies; surveys taken on mobile phones).
The paper presents a comprehensive validation of a model for measuring Right-Wing Extremist Attitudes (RWE-A) in Germany, utilizing five repeated cross-sectional surveys from the so-called Mitte-survey (2014–2023), a representative population survey conducted every two years. Building on a long tradition of attitude research, the study examines an 18-item scale representing six theoretically grounded subdimensions: (1) support for a right-wing dictatorship, (2) national chauvinism, (3) trivialization of National Socialism, (4) xenophobia, (5) anti-Semitism and (6) social Darwinism. The survey instrument has been in use in Germany for 20 years, developed by a consensus of experts, to record such an extreme right-wing world view. We tested the psychometric properties of the scale using confirmatory factor analysis and multiple group comparisons, focusing on measurement invariance over time and across demographic subgroups. Our results confirm a coherent, stable second-order factor structure for RWE-A, invariant across all survey waves and most population strata. Notably, also anti-Semitism remains closely tied to the overall construct of RWE-A. The study detects a significant decline in RWE-A from 2014 to 2021, followed by a marked increase in 2023. Latent mean differences indicate a growing polarization in the population. Demographic analyses show consistent associations between RWE-A and lower education, older age, residence in East Germany, and right-wing political self-identification. Voting preferences reveal a sharp increase in RWE-A among supporters of the far-right party “Alternative für Deutschland” (AfD). The findings underline the reliability and construct validity of the RWE-A scale and highlight its importance for longitudinal monitoring and comparative research on anti-democratic attitudes.
The internalization of democratic values in childhood is essential for fostering resilient democracies. Despite its importance, research on democratic values in children remains scarce due to methodological challenges. This study aims to develop and evaluate the factorial validity of a new survey instrument measuring five democratic values (participation, equality, following rules, renunciation of violence, and freedom of opinion) in primary school children. Confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) were performed using data from 429 third- and fourth-grade pupils in Germany to assess the instrument’s validity. CFA results indicate that most scales—particularly equality, following rules, and renunciation of violence—demonstrate structural validity, while the scales for participation and freedom require further revision. Limitations of the study include the text-heavy survey design and the moderate sample size, precluding advanced invariance testing. Nevertheless, this study provides initial evidence for the feasibility of employing CFA to validate measures of democratic values in children and highlights important directions for future research to enhance the reliability and validity of these instruments.
This study examines the structure of Group-Focused Enmity (GFE) among majority and ethnic minority populations in Belgium using second-order Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). While GFE has been widely studied in majority populations, its configuration among minorities remains underexplored. Using data from the 2020 Belgian National Elections Study (BNES) and the Belgian Ethnic Minorities Elections Study (BEMES), we compare measurements of GFE between majority Belgians and Belgians of Turkish and Moroccan descent. While a 2nd-order factor measuring GFE can be distinguished in both groups, measurement invariance tests reveal important differences in its constellation. While anti-Muslim sentiment dominates GFE among majority Belgians, antisemitism is the central component among Belgians of Turkish and Moroccan descent. These findings highlight the group-specific nature of the structure of interrelated prejudices.
A robust measure of hate crime-related attitudes is crucial to exploring the reciprocal relationship between hate crime and attitudes within society. Building on previous versions of the Hate Crime Beliefs Scale (HCBS), developed and validated in the U.S. (Cabeldue et al., 2018; Kehn et al., 2023) and the U.K. (Bacon et al., 2021), we created the HCBS-Universal (HCBS-U) in German and English, designed to be context-independent by omitting references to specific target groups and contexts. The HCBS-U was validated in three pre-registered studies. Study 1 (German sample, Nt1 = 581; Nt2 = 300) confirmed the three-factor structure and convergent validity and demonstrated strict measurement invariance across time. Study 2 (German sample, N = 3,000) replicated the three-factor structure and convergent validity. Study 3 (U.S. sample, N = 593) validated the English HCBS-U and supported scalar invariance across countries. Results affirm the HCBS-U as a reliable tool for assessing hate crime attitudes in diverse contexts.
Previous research suggests that the concept of Right-Wing Authoritarianism (RWA) may be no longer sufficient to explain attraction to contemporary right-wing movements. Using data from two correlational studies in Germany (N = 469) and the United States (N = 314), we developed the 9-item Modern Comprehensive F Scale (MCF-9), integrating all nine facets from the California F Scale (Adorno et al., 1950). Validation criteria included right-wing political and antidemocratic attitudes, antisemitism, xenophobia, and donation preferences. Confirmatory Factor Analysis confirmed the one-dimensionality of MCF-9. The scale showed good internal consistency (ω = .87 in Germany; ω = .90 in the U.S.), and had strong positive associations with RWA, and Social Dominance Orientation (SDO). Notably, MCF-9 accounted for additional variance in all validation criteria (up to 17% in Germany; up to 20% in the U.S.) beyond two established RWA scales, positioning it as valuable contemporary measure. Limitations and implications are discussed.
Correction to: Monstadt, F. C. (2025). Measuring Democratic Values in Primary School Children: Development and Confirmatory Factor Analysis of a New Survey Instrument. Measurement Instruments for the Social Sciences, 7, Article e16247. https://doi.org/10.5964/miss.16247
There are two main points of reference to Frankfurt School's authoritarianism research. On the one hand, scholars who, following Fromm (1932), seek to identify a contemporary social character under conditions of post-Fordist capitalism emphasize that the authoritarian character has been replaced by a flexible, entrepreneurial self. On the other hand, research on authoritarianism still relies on adaptations of the F-scale developed by Adorno et al. (1950) (e.g., Altemeyer, 1981; Beierlein et al., 2014; Oesterreich, 1998; Decker et al., 2022). At the same time, certain new forms of authoritarianism are being identified (Amlinger & Nachtwey, 2025). In this paper, we aim to bridge this tension by introducing a measurement tool for a contemporary “affirmative social character” adapted to flexible capitalism, and to explore the relationship between this social character and authoritarian tendencies. Based on a German sample ( N = 1,196), we develop the 28-item Aff-Scale to measure the adaptive authoritarian tendencies aligned with the demands of 21st-century meritocracy. The scale captures five dimensions: affirmation, self-optimization, flexibility & mobility, solutionism, and libertarianism. Validation measures included traditional authoritarianism (KSA-3; Beierlein et al., 2014), right-wing extremism (FR-LF; Heller et al., 2020), and sociodemographic variables. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the multidimensionality ( CFI = 0.927; RMSEA = 0.048) but showed a need for further validation. Internal consistency was good (Cronbach's α = .83; ω = .64) and the expected correlations with RWA and educational-, social status and age were significant. Despite its limitations, the Aff-scale is a useful tool for examining a 21st century social character and contributes to a better understanding of modernized forms of authoritarianism.
Trust in science is vital for informed decision-making and societal progress, especially in times of misinformation. Still, trust in science remains underexplored, particularly regarding its development and determinants. To address this gap, we developed a short scale suitable for longitudinal studies. In Study 1, data from 449 adults supported a 4-item unidimensional scale with excellent fit (CFI = .997, RMSEA = .046) and reliability (ω = .835). The scale was negatively correlated with Conspiracy Mentality (r = -.37) as well as Law-and-Order Beliefs (r = -.19). Study 2 (N = 298 parent-adolescent dyads) replicated the model fit and confirmed measurement invariance across age groups. A dyadic model revealed a strong parent-child correlation (r = .66). Men had higher scores than women. This scale provides researchers and policymakers with a robust tool for assessing trust in science across diverse settings and evaluating interventions to foster this resource.
In the present paper we introduce a German measure of managing a privileged group identity. We translated and adapted the 4D-Scale (Shuman et al., 2024) to the German context and validated it across three distinct samples. Results of Study 1 (N = 346), Study 2 (N = 342), and Study 3 (N = 204) confirm the psychometric qualities of the German measure and replicate the 5-factor-structure including the management strategies Defend, Deny, Distance from Inequality, Distance from Identity and Dismantle. Moreover, Studies 1 and 2 provide evidence for the measure’s construct validity and measurement invariance, while Study 3 offers additional support of its predictive validity and test-retest reliability within two weeks. The content of the first item of the Distancing from Identity subscale is not valid and is therefore not recommended for studies in the German context.
This study aims to validate the psychometric properties of the Flourishing Scale (FS) within the Algerian context, contributing to the understanding of psychological well-being in non-Western settings. Flourishing reflects an individual’s perception of leading a fulfilling and meaningful life, with optimal functioning across social, emotional, and psychological domains. Using a sample of 365 university students, the study evaluated the FS alongside the Satisfaction with Life Scale. EFA and CFA were conducted to examine the FS structure, along with internal consistency and validity assessments. The results demonstrated strong psychometric properties, confirming the scale’s unidimensionality, high internal consistency, and validity as a measure of flourishing in Algeria. Measurement invariance analysis further confirmed that the FS retains its psychometric robustness across gender and age groups, reinforcing its applicability in diverse populations. Correlations with SWLS further supported its construct validity. The findings support the use of the FS in Algerian settings to assess psychological well-being. Future research should explore its applicability across diverse demographic groups and investigate its relationships with other constructs, such as resilience and work-life balance.
Even though Bourdieu’s concept of cultural capital is often criticized as poorly defined and vague, it remains a central and widely used concept in research on the reproduction of social inequality. In this regard, objectified cultural capital is most often captured by the prominent indicator of the number of books in the household. In times of advancing digitization, the question arises to what extent this indicator does neglect a crucial part of book collections—namely e-books. Using German survey data on cultural participation from 2018, we therefore assess whether a combined indicator of physical and digital book collections is more valid than the traditional indicator of number of printed books in the household. Our empirical findings indicate that, at the time of the survey, the information gains are marginal if digital collections are additionally considered.
In the 2023 Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC), the Big Five personality traits were assessed using the 15-item extra-short form of the Big Five Inventory-2 (BFI-2-XS). For this purpose, the instrument was translated into 24 languages and adapted to 29 countries, resulting in 39 language versions. This translation and adaptation process followed state-of-the-art procedures to generate language versions of the BFI-2-XS that are maximally comparable across countries and regions. In the present paper, we describe this general translation procedure from a methodological point of view. We also document each resulting language version and report in detail the decisions taken during the translation process and the adaptations made to preexisting national versions of the BFI-2-XS. Our aim is to share with researchers the resulting BFI-2-XS language versions developed with high quality standards to allow maximal cross-cultural comparability. Our intention in so doing is to enable their wider usage beyond PIAAC.
