Description

The Modern Racism Scale (MRS-7) is a psychometric tool designed to measure subtle forms of racism, particularly in societies where overt racism has become socially unacceptable. Unlike traditional measures that assess explicit racist attitudes, the MRS-7 focuses on more covert expressions of prejudice, which may manifest in denial of ongoing discrimination, antagonism towards demands for equality, and resentment over perceived favoritism towards minority groups.

Analysis and Data Usage

The MRS-7 consists of 7 items, typically rated on a Likert scale, that gauge respondents’ agreement with statements reflecting modern racist beliefs. Data collected using the MRS-7 can be analyzed to:
Assess Prevalence of Modern Racism: By calculating the mean score across respondents, researchers can estimate the general level of modern racism in a population.
Explore Demographic Differences: The scale can be used to investigate differences in modern racist attitudes across various demographic groups, such as age, gender, education level, and political affiliation.
Correlational Studies: The MRS-7 scores can be correlated with other variables, such as support for policies affecting minority groups, to explore the relationship between modern racist attitudes and behaviors.
Intervention Evaluation: The scale can be used in pre- and post-tests to assess the effectiveness of interventions aimed at reducing racism.

Calibration

To ensure the MRS-7 is reliable and valid in different contexts, it is important to calibrate the scale. Calibration involves:
Reliability Testing: Assessing the internal consistency of the scale using Cronbach’s alpha, ensuring that the items reliably measure the same underlying construct.
Factor Analysis: Performing exploratory or confirmatory factor analysis to verify that the items group together in a manner consistent with the theoretical construct of modern racism.
Cross-Cultural Validation: If used in different cultural or linguistic settings, the scale should undergo translation and back-translation, and its psychometric properties should be reassessed to ensure it remains valid.
Norming: Establishing normative data, which involves collecting data from a representative sample to create reference points that can be used to interpret individual scores.

References

Here is a selection of key references in English that discuss the development, application, and implications of the Modern Racism Scale:
McConahay, J. B. (1986). Modern racism, ambivalence, and the Modern Racism Scale. In J. F. Dovidio & S. L. Gaertner (Eds.), Prejudice, discrimination, and racism (pp. 91-125). Academic Press.
This seminal work introduces the concept of modern racism and provides the theoretical foundation for the MRS.
Henry, P. J., & Sears, D. O. (2002). The Symbolic Racism 2000 Scale. Political Psychology, 23(2), 253-283.
This paper discusses the evolution of racism scales, including the MRS, and compares them with other related measures.
Awad, G. H., Cokley, K. O., & Ravitch, J. (2005). Attitudes Toward Affirmative Action: A Comparison of Color-Blind Versus Modern Racist Attitudes. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 35(7), 1384-1399.
This study applies the MRS in the context of attitudes toward affirmative action, illustrating its use in contemporary research.
Swim, J. K., & Miller, D. L. (1999). White guilt: Its antecedents and consequences for attitudes toward affirmative action. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 25(4), 500-514.
This article explores how modern racism relates to feelings of guilt and support for policies aimed at addressing racial inequalities.