Construction and Validation of the Scale of Attitudes Towards Lynching

Abstract The present study aimed to develop and validate the Scale of Attitudes towards Lynching (Escala de Atitudes frente ao Linchamento - EAL). For this purpose, 2 studies were conducted. Study 1 aimed to test the measure’s structure-based validity and internal consistency and included 428 undergraduate and graduate students from the 5 Brazilian regions, with a mean age of 26.86 (SD =7.92). The results of the first study showed adequate psychometric indexes, indicating the bifactorial structure of the construct: crimes against property (α = 0.97) and heinous crimes (α = 0.97). Study 2 aimed to test the replicability of the bifactorial structure obtained in study 1 and included 481 college students from all Brazilian regions with an average age of 27.47 (SD = 9.23). The results supported the adequacy of the bifactorial solution (GFI = 92, CFI = 97, TLI = 97, RMSEA = 0.08). Overall, the EAL presented satisfactory psychometric characteristics that can support future studies.

摘要 本研究旨在编制并验证私刑态度量表（Scale of Attitudes towards Lynching，缩写EAL，葡萄牙语全称为Escala de Atitudes frente ao Linchamento）。为此开展了两项研究。研究1旨在检验该量表的结构效度与内部一致性，招募了来自巴西5个地区的428名本科及研究生，平均年龄为26.86岁（标准差=7.92）。研究1结果显示其心理测量学指标良好，表明该构念具备双因子结构，分为财产类犯罪与恶性犯罪两个维度（α值均为0.97）。研究2旨在验证研究1所得双因子结构的可复制性，招募了来自巴西全境各地区的481名大学生，平均年龄为27.47岁（标准差=9.23）。研究2结果支持该双因子模型的适配性，各项拟合指数分别为GFI=0.92、CFI=0.97、TLI=0.97、RMSEA=0.08。整体而言，EAL具备令人满意的心理测量学特征，可为后续相关研究提供可靠支撑。