Materialism Scale (MS-18)

Description

The Materialism Scale (MS-18) is a measurement instrument used in psychology and sociology to assess an individual’s materialistic values and beliefs. It focuses on the extent to which the acquisition and possession of material goods are considered important for happiness, success, and the individual’s overall view of life.

The statements included in the scale cover aspects such as appreciation of expensive objects, enjoyment derived from buying new things, and the desire to own possessions that impress others.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the MS-18 is to measure the extent to which materialistic values influence an individual’s life and behavior.

More specifically, the scale examines how important the acquisition and possession of material goods are for:

happiness,

perceptions of success,

self-esteem,

and, more generally, the way individuals evaluate the importance of material possessions in their lives.

Scale Content

The MS-18 includes statements addressing different aspects of materialistic orientation.

Through these statements, the scale examines whether individuals:

place particular value on owning material goods,

associate happiness with acquiring possessions,

perceive success through material criteria,

and derive satisfaction from purchasing or owning objects.

Structure

According to the provided source, the MS-18 consists of 18 items.

Participants are asked to indicate the degree to which they agree or disagree with each statement.

Scoring

The scale uses a 5-point Likert response format:

1 = Strongly agree

2 = Agree

3 = Neutral

4 = Disagree

5 = Strongly disagree.

The provided source does not specify which items, if any, require reverse coding, nor does it provide a complete protocol for calculating the total score.

Score Interpretation

According to the source, higher scores on the scale indicate a stronger materialistic orientation, whereas lower scores suggest that the individual places less importance on material possessions.

However, the same source presents the numerical response scale with 1 representing “Strongly agree” and 5 representing “Strongly disagree.” Therefore, the exact direction of scoring cannot be confirmed from the provided material alone. Accurate score calculation should follow the official scoring instructions and item coding rules.

Statistical Analysis

MS-18 scores may be used to investigate relationships between materialism and other psychological, social, or behavioral variables.

According to the provided source, particular areas of interest include associations between materialism and:

psychological well-being,

life satisfaction,

and

consumer behavior.

The source does not provide specific instructions regarding factor analysis, reliability coefficients, or other psychometric procedures.

Applications

The MS-18 may be used in research within psychology, sociology, and marketing.

Its use may contribute to a better understanding of:

the relationship between materialistic values and psychological well-being,

the factors associated with consumer behavior,

the importance individuals attach to material possessions,

and the possible social or psychological consequences of strong materialistic orientation.

The source also indicates that findings from the scale may support the development of interventions or programs aimed at reducing possible negative effects of materialism.

References

Richins ML, Dawson S. Consumer values orientation for materialism and its measurement: Scale development and validation. Journal of Consumer Research. 1992;19:303–316.

Richins ML. The Material Values Scale: Measurement properties and development of a short form. Journal of Consumer Research. 2004;31:209–219.