The Multidimensional Attitudes Scale Toward Persons With Disabilities (MAS)

Abstract

This study presents the development of a new instrument, the Multidimensional Attitudes Scale Toward Persons With Disabilities (MAS). Based on the multidimensional approach, it posits that attitudes are composed of three dimensions: affect, cognition, and behavior. The scale was distributed to a sample of 132 people along with a self-esteem measure and a frequently employed attitude scale, the Attitudes Toward Disabled Persons Scale (ATDP). The construct and concurrent validity of the questionnaire was demonstrated by reliability and factor analyses, as well as by comparison with the ATDP scale. Principal component factor analysis revealed three correlated but distinct factors. Results show that women hold more positive behavioral attitudes than men. Interestingly, men with high self-esteem were found to hold more positive cognitions than men with low self-esteem. Results indicate the importance of a multidimensional approach both for the construction of sound instruments and for professional interventions aimed at modifying attitudes toward persons with disabilities.

Influence of Exposure on Public Acceptance Towards Physical Activity Involvement of People With Disabilities (Pwd): Exploring the Mediating Role of Attitude Using Sem Approach

“…The second section comprises 23 items, with 17 items on attitude and 6 items on Attitude Exposure Public Acceptance exposure. Three attitudes dimensions which consists of cognitive, affective and behavior components, was developed with reference to Findler, Vilchinsky, and Werner (2007). The items were measured using a 7-point Likert scale.…”

Exploring Community Attitudes to People with Learning Disabilities: Using a Micro-Neighbourhood Design

“…A more contemporary instrument, commonly used, is the Attitudes towards Intellectual Disability Questionnaire [ATTID,55]. This instrument was developed according to a multi-dimensional model [56] addressing affective, cognitive and behavioural components of attitudes. The ATTID is based on several previously validated instruments such as the Mental Retardation Attitude Inventory-Revised [57], the Behavioural Intention Scale [58], the Community Living Attitudes Scale-Mental Retardation [59], the Pictographic Scale [36] and the interview questionnaire from the Multinational Attitude Study Survey [60].…”

“…The ATTID is based on several previously validated instruments such as the Mental Retardation Attitude Inventory-Revised [57], the Behavioural Intention Scale [58], the Community Living Attitudes Scale-Mental Retardation [59], the Pictographic Scale [36] and the interview questionnaire from the Multinational Attitude Study Survey [60]. Cronbach's alpha coefficients for the ATTID range from 0.59 to 0.89 showing good internal consistency for the five factors and 0.92 for the overall questionnaire; test-retest reliability generated correlations ranging from 0.62 to 0.83 for the five factors [56]. Morin et al [55] suggest that the ATTID can be used to measure attitudes among different populations and allows comparisons over time within the same population.…”

Early Exposure to People with Physical and Sensory Disabilities and Later Attitudes Toward Social Interactions and Inclusion

“…This suggests that studies should measure specific behavioral intentions as well as general attitudes. Similarly, researchers have criticized traditional assessments of attitudes toward disability for being overly susceptible to social desirability bias (i.e., the perceived social pressure to report positive attitudes towards disability; Pruett & Chan, 2006) and have developed alternatives, such as implicit attitudes tests (Pruett & Chan, 2006) and measures of reactions to a hypothetical social situation (e.g., the Multidimensional Attitudes Scale [MAS]; Findler, Vilchinsky & Werner, 2007).…”

“…The MAS (Findler et al, 2007) is used to examine responses to a hypothetical person with a disability through the three domains of emotion, cognition, and behavior. Each domain is represented by a subscale and a total score is calculated through summing the average score on each subscale.…”