Scale Description

The Forced Choice F Scale (Schuman [FCSS-10]) is a psychometric tool designed to measure authoritarian attitudes and tendencies. This scale is based on the traditional F Scale, originally developed to examine the authoritarian personality. The FCSS-10 tool consists of 10 questions that cover various aspects of authoritarian and conservative attitudes. Participants are required to choose between two alternative statements, thus forcing them to express a clear preference that reflects their views.

Data Analysis and Usage

The analysis of data from the FCSS-10 involves evaluating participants’ authoritarian attitudes using quantitative techniques. The process typically includes:

Descriptive Statistics:Frequencies and Percentages: Calculation of the frequencies and percentages of choices made by participants for each pair of statements.

Means and Standard Deviations: Analysis of means and standard deviations for the overall scores, aiming to understand the general trend of authoritarian attitudes in a sample.

Correlations:Examination of correlations between different pairs of statements to understand the consistency of authoritarian tendencies in participants’ responses.

Factor Analysis:In some cases, factor analysis may be applied to identify underlying factors influencing authoritarian attitudes, if deemed necessary.

Purpose

The main goal of the FCSS-10 is to identify the presence and intensity of authoritarian attitudes in an individual or group. This tool is used for:

Research Purposes: Examining the relationships between authoritarian attitudes and other psychological or social variables.

Social and Political Research: Analyzing trends of authoritarianism in different social groups and understanding their relationship with political beliefs or behaviors.

Clinical Assessment: Evaluating authoritarian tendencies to understand an individual’s psychological structure.

Calibration

The calibration of the FCSS-10 involves the process of assessing the reliability and validity of the tool:

Reliability: Calculation of the internal consistency of the scale, typically using Cronbach’s alpha, to determine the stability of responses.

Comparative Analysis: Comparisons with other studies and scales to confirm the validity of the FCSS-10 results.

References

Schuman, H. (1954). Methodological studies of authoritarianism: I. The forced choice F scale. University of Michigan.

Adorno, T. W., Frenkel-Brunswik, E., Levinson, D. J., & Sanford, R. N. (1950). The Authoritarian Personality. Harper & Row.

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