Description of the Scale

The Bidimensional Acculturation Scale for Hispanics (BAS-24) is a tool designed to assess cultural acculturation among Hispanics. The scale is bidimensional, meaning it measures cultural adaptation in two distinct dimensions: adaptation to the host culture and retention of the culture of origin.

The BAS-24 includes 24 questions that evaluate various aspects of cultural acculturation, such as language proficiency, cultural practices, and social relationships. The questions use a Likert scale to measure the intensity of agreement or disagreement with the provided statements.

Data Analysis and Usage

Analyzing data from the BAS-24 involves quantitative techniques to understand participants’ cultural acculturation. The process typically includes:

Descriptive Statistics:Means and Standard Deviations: Calculation of means and standard deviations for scores on each question or subscale.

Reliability: Assessment of the internal consistency of the scale using Cronbach’s alpha to confirm the reliability of the results.

Correlations:Examination of correlations between scores on different questions or subscales to understand the relationships between the two dimensions of cultural acculturation.

Factor Analysis:Use of factor analyses to identify key factors influencing cultural acculturation, if necessary.

Purpose

The primary goal of the BAS-24 is to provide a reliable and objective tool for evaluating the bidimensional nature of cultural acculturation: integration into the host culture and maintenance of the culture of origin. It is used for:

Research Purposes: Studying the relationships between cultural acculturation and other psychological or social variables.

Clinical Assessment: Evaluating cultural adjustment and the need for support for individuals adapting to new cultural environments.

Cultural Understanding: Understanding how Hispanics integrate into host societies while maintaining their cultural characteristics.

Calibration

Calibration of the BAS-24 involves analyzing the data obtained from the use of the scale:

Internal Consistency Assessment: Calculation of the reliability of the tool using indices such as Cronbach’s alpha.

Comparative Analysis: Comparing results with data from other studies to confirm the validity and reliability of the scale.

Bibliography

Marin, G., & Gamba, R. J. (1996). Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans: Development of a 24-item scale. In Acculturation and Mental Health. Routledge.

Cuellar, I., Arnold, B., & Gonzalez, G. (1995). The Cuellar Acculturation Scale: A review and critique. In Acculturation and Mental Health. Routledge.

Berry, J. W. (2003). Conceptual approaches to acculturation. In Acculturation: Advances in Theory, Measurement, and Applied Research. American Psychological Association.