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.