Description of the Scale

The Balanced Dogmatism Scale (BDS-76) is a tool designed to assess dogmatism and tolerance towards different opinions and ideas. The BDS-76 measures an individual’s position between extreme dogmatic and open-minded attitudes, focusing on their ability to maintain a balanced approach to their beliefs despite contradictions and differences.

The scale includes 76 questions covering various aspects of dogmatism, such as rigidity in beliefs, resistance to change, and tolerance for alternative viewpoints. The questions use a Likert scale to measure the frequency or intensity of agreement or disagreement with the provided statements.

Data Analysis and Usage

The analysis of data from the BDS-76 involves quantitative techniques to understand the degree of dogmatism among participants. 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 tool through 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 various aspects of dogmatism.

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

Purpose

The main goal of the BDS-76 is to provide a reliable and objective tool for assessing dogmatism and the ability to think in a balanced manner. It is used for:

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

Clinical Assessment: Evaluating the need for interventions or support for individuals with strongly dogmatic attitudes.

Psychological Understanding: Understanding the degree of tolerance and flexibility in individuals’ thinking.

Calibration

The calibration of the BDS-76 includes 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

Altemeyer, B. (1996). The Authoritarian Specter. Harvard University Press.

Duckitt, J., & Sibley, C. G. (2007). Personality and Prejudice: A Meta-Analysis. In The Psychology of Prejudice and Discrimination. Sage Publications.

Rokeach, M. (1960). The Open and Closed Mind: Investigations into the Nature of Belief Systems and Personality Systems. Basic Books.