Paranormal Beliefs of Latvian College Students: A Latvian Version of the Revised Paranormal Belief Scale

Utināns, Artūrs; Ancane, G.; Tobacyk, Jerome; Boyraz, Güler; Livingston, Mary M.

doi:10.2466/08.17.pr0.116k14w9

Cited by 13 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Analysis of modified versions has also produced alternative factorial structures. For instance, Utinans et al ( 2015 ) produced a Latvian Version of the RPBS, which yielded a six-factor structure (Magical Abilities, Psychokinesis, Traditional Religious Belief, Superstition, Spirit Travel, and Extraordinary Life Forms). Additionally, a study using undergraduate students from the University of Zagreb, Croatia (Mikloušić et al, 2012 ), produced a previously unreported three-factor solution.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Assessment of the Dimensionality and Factorial Structure of the Revised Paranormal Belief Scale

et al. 2017

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Since its introduction, the Revised Paranormal Belief Scale (RPBS) has developed into a principal measure of belief in the paranormal. Accordingly, the RPBS regularly appears within parapsychological research. Despite common usage, academic debates continue to focus on the factorial structure of the RPBS and its psychometric integrity. Using an aggregated heterogeneous sample (N = 3,764), the present study tested the fit of 10 factorial models encompassing variants of the most commonly proposed solutions (seven, five, two, and one-factor) plus new bifactor alternatives. A comparison of competing models revealed a seven-factor bifactor solution possessed superior data-model fit (CFI = 0.945, TLI = 0.933, IFI = 0.945, SRMR = 0.046, RMSEA = 0.058), containing strong factor loadings for a general factor and weaker, albeit acceptable, factor loadings for seven subfactors. This indicated that belief in the paranormal, as measured by the RPBS, is best characterized as a single overarching construct, comprising several related, but conceptually independent subfactors. Furthermore, women reported significantly higher paranormal belief scores than men, and tests of invariance indicated that mean differences in gender are unlikely to reflect measurement bias. Results indicate that despite concerns about the content and psychometric integrity of the RPBS the measure functions well at both a global and seven-factor level. Indeed, the original seven-factors contaminate alternative solutions.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Assessment of the Dimensionality and Factorial Structure of the Revised Paranormal Belief Scale

et al. 2017

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“…Similarly, Icelandic students showed disbelief in all paranormal subjects except precognition (Tobacyk and Milford 1983). Latvian students also showed a general disbelief in all paranormal subjects, with the exception of women having slightly higher belief in traditional religious beliefs (Utinans et al 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reducing Pseudoscientific and Paranormal Beliefs in University Students Through a Course in Science and Critical Thinking

Wilson

2018

Sci & Educ

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This study measured the relationship between student's religion, gender, and propensity for fantasy thinking with the change in belief for paranormal and pseudoscientific subjects following a science and critical thinking course that directly confronted these subjects. Student pre-course endorsement of religious, paranormal, and pseudoscientific beliefs ranged from 21 to 53%, with religion having the highest endorsement rate. Pre-course belief in paranormal and pseudoscientific subjects was correlated with high scores in some fantasy thinking scales and showed a gender and a religion effect with females having an 11.1% higher belief across all paranormal and pseudoscience subcategories. Students' religion, and frequency of religious service attendance, was also important with agnostic or atheist students having lower beliefs in paranormal and pseudoscience subjects compared to religious students. Students with either low religious service attendance or very high attendance had lower paranormal and pseudoscientific beliefs. Following the critical thinking course, overall beliefs in paranormal and pseudoscientific subcategories lowered 6.8-28.9%, except for superstition, which did not significantly change. Change in belief had both a gender and religion effect with greater reductions among religious students and females.

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“…First, there is a considerable debate concerning the correct dimensionality of the R-PBS. Whereas some researchers (e.g., Tobacyk 2004) has consistently advocated seven orthogonal factors (Traditional Religious Belief, Psi belief, Witchcraft, Superstition, Spiritualism, Extraordinary Life Forms, and Precognition), others have counter-argued in favor of five oblique factorsin particular with a mixed spiritualism-psi factor (e.g., Lawrence et al 1997), or six relatively independent factors (Utinans et al 2015). Still other researchers (e.g., Lindeman and Aarnio 2006) have more specifically examined whether the paranormal belief factors are manifestations of one higher-order construct or whether they express independent dimensions.…”

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confidence: 99%

Individual differences in paranormal beliefs: The differential role of personality aspects

Chauvin

Mullet

2018

Curr Psychol

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Personality is among the most studied correlates of belief in the paranormal. There is, however, some inconsistency in their association. The purpose of the present study was to provide a more clear view of how paranormal beliefs are associated with personality by (1) using a psychometrically sound instrument for assessing belief in the paranormal, and (2) investigating the differential role in paranormal beliefs of the two lower-level aspects of each Big Five domain. French citizens completed a modified version of the Revised-Paranormal Belief Scale and the Big Five Aspect Scales. A six-factor model of paranormal beliefs displaying strong psychometric properties was identified. Correlations between personality and paranormal beliefs were stronger at the aspect level than at the domain level. Consistent with our differential prediction hypothesis, the effect of one aspect was not the same as another aspect of the same broad domain of personality on belief in the paranormal. Withdrawal, Openness, Industriousness, and Assertiveness did a good job of predicting belief in the paranormal, while Volatility, Intellect, Orderliness and Enthusiasm were not predictors of such beliefs. Overall, these results emphasize the importance of considering lower levels of the personality hierarchy in attempting to understand paranormal beliefs. Keywords Personality. Big five aspect scales (BFAS). Belief in the paranormal. Confirmatory factor analysis. Path analysis

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Paranormal Beliefs of Latvian College Students: A Latvian Version of the Revised Paranormal Belief Scale

Cited by 13 publications

References 24 publications

An Assessment of the Dimensionality and Factorial Structure of the Revised Paranormal Belief Scale

An Assessment of the Dimensionality and Factorial Structure of the Revised Paranormal Belief Scale

Reducing Pseudoscientific and Paranormal Beliefs in University Students Through a Course in Science and Critical Thinking

Individual differences in paranormal beliefs: The differential role of personality aspects

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