Description

The McClosky and Schaar’s Anomy Scale (MASAS-9) is a psychometric instrument developed to assess the perception of anomie, a sociological and psychological construct describing the breakdown, weakening, or absence of social norms, values, and institutional trust. Originally introduced by Herbert McClosky and John H. Schaar, the scale measures the extent to which individuals experience feelings of social disorganization, alienation, uncertainty, and diminished confidence in the social order. It has been widely used in sociology, political science, psychology, and public policy research to investigate the effects of social instability, institutional distrust, and societal change on individual attitudes and behaviors.

The MASAS-9 evaluates perceptions of social instability through a series of statements reflecting individuals’ attitudes toward society, social institutions, and prevailing social norms. Participants indicate their level of agreement with each statement, allowing researchers to quantify perceived levels of anomie.

The questionnaire assesses several key dimensions of perceived anomie, including:

  • Perceived Social Disorganization – beliefs that society lacks clear structure, order, and stability.
  • Weakening of Social Norms – perceptions that traditional values and social rules have become ineffective or have lost their influence.
  • Institutional Distrust – reduced confidence in governmental, political, and social institutions.
  • Social Alienation – feelings of detachment, isolation, and disconnection from society.
  • Normative Uncertainty – uncertainty regarding acceptable behaviors, expectations, and social values.

The theoretical foundation of the MASAS-9 is rooted in the classical concept of anomie, originally introduced by Émile Durkheim and later expanded by Robert K. Merton, describing conditions in which weakened social regulation contributes to uncertainty, alienation, and social instability.

Analysis and Use of Data

The MASAS-9 enables researchers to quantitatively assess perceived anomie and investigate its relationships with psychological, political, social, and behavioral outcomes. It provides valuable information for understanding social cohesion, institutional trust, civic participation, and attitudes toward society.

Statistical analyses commonly include:

  • Descriptive statistics (means, standard deviations, medians, frequencies, and percentile distributions).
  • Reliability assessment using Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s Omega.
  • Construct validity evaluation through Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA).
  • Assessment of convergent and discriminant validity using measures of social trust, political efficacy, civic engagement, institutional confidence, psychological well-being, social capital, and life satisfaction.
  • Correlation analyses using Pearson’s or Spearman’s correlation coefficients.
  • Group comparisons using independent-samples t-tests, ANOVA, MANOVA, or appropriate non-parametric procedures.
  • Multiple linear and logistic regression analyses to identify predictors of perceived anomie.
  • Mediation, moderation, and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to investigate relationships among anomie, institutional trust, social participation, and psychological outcomes.
  • Cross-cultural validation studies examining perceptions of anomie across different societies and demographic groups.

The MASAS-9 is widely applied in:

  • Sociology
  • Social psychology
  • Political science
  • Community psychology
  • Public policy research
  • Cross-cultural studies
  • Social cohesion research
  • Social capital and institutional trust studies

Objective

The primary objective of the McClosky and Schaar’s Anomy Scale (MASAS-9) is to provide a reliable and valid assessment of individuals’ perceptions of anomie, reflecting the extent to which they perceive society as lacking clear norms, stability, and institutional effectiveness. The instrument supports research on social integration, political attitudes, institutional legitimacy, and psychological adaptation to social change.

More specifically, the questionnaire aims to:

  • Assess perceived levels of social anomie.
  • Evaluate confidence in social norms and institutions.
  • Measure feelings of social alienation and uncertainty.
  • Investigate perceptions of social cohesion and stability.
  • Examine relationships between anomie and psychological well-being.
  • Support research on social change, political attitudes, and civic participation.
  • Provide evidence for policies aimed at strengthening social cohesion and institutional trust.

Scoring

The MASAS-9 consists of nine self-report items assessing individuals’ perceptions of anomie. Participants respond to each statement using a dichotomous response format consisting of “Agree” or “Disagree.”

Responses are coded according to the scoring key established by the original developers, and individual item scores are summed to produce an overall anomie score. Depending on the wording of each statement, some items may require reverse scoring before calculating the total score.

Higher total scores generally indicate:

  • Greater perceived social disorganization.
  • Stronger feelings of alienation from society.
  • Lower confidence in social norms and institutions.
  • Increased perceptions of uncertainty regarding societal values and expectations.
  • Higher levels of perceived anomie.

Psychometric evaluation of the MASAS-9 commonly includes:

  • Internal consistency reliability (Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s Omega)
  • Test–retest reliability
  • Construct validity
  • Convergent and discriminant validity
  • Factorial validity using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA)
  • Measurement invariance across demographic and cultural groups
  • Item analysis and corrected item–total correlations

The MASAS-9 is considered a concise and effective instrument for assessing perceptions of anomie and has been widely employed in studies examining social change, institutional trust, political behavior, and community well-being.

References

Durkheim, É. (1897). Le Suicide: Étude de Sociologie. Félix Alcan.

Heydari, A., Davoudi, I., & Teymoori, A. (2011). Revising the assessment of feeling of anomie: Presenting a multidimensional scale. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 30, 1086–1090.

McClosky, H., & Schaar, J. H. (1965). Psychological dimensions of anomy. American Sociological Review, 30(1), 14–40.

Merton, R. K. (1938). Social structure and anomie. American Sociological Review, 3(5), 672–682.

Robinson, J. P., & Shaver, P. R. (1969). Measures of Political Attitudes. Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan.