Scale-Description

The ATS-44 is a scale designed to assess individuals’ attitudes toward suicide. It includes 44 items related to personal beliefs, social perceptions, and emotional reactions concerning suicide. The scale helps understand the factors influencing people’s attitudes towards suicide, which is critical for developing intervention and prevention strategies.

Data Analysis and Use

Quantitative Analysis: ATS-44 uses a Likert scale (usually 5 or 7 points), ranging from “Strongly Agree” to “Strongly Disagree.” The total score is calculated either by summing or averaging the responses, with higher scores indicating more positive attitudes toward suicide and lower scores indicating more negative attitudes.
Qualitative Analysis: This may involve examining responses to open-ended questions (if present) and how demographic variables (such as age, gender, and occupation) affect attitudes toward suicide.

The scale can be used for:
Research focusing on attitudes and beliefs about suicide.
Evaluating the effectiveness of awareness and education programs for suicide prevention.
Clinical studies exploring the relationship between attitudes and suicide prevention.

Goal

The primary goal of ATS-44 is to provide a reliable and valid measure of attitudes toward suicide. This facilitates understanding social biases and emotional responses surrounding the topic, helping:
Study the impact of these attitudes on suicide prevention strategies.
Develop and assess intervention and awareness programs.

Calibration

The calibration of ATS-44 involves processes to ensure the scale’s reliability and validity:
Internal Consistency: Examining the internal consistency of the scale’s items to measure the same underlying characteristic.
Reliability: Assessing the consistency of responses when the scale is used at different times.
Comparison with Other Scales: Ensuring ATS-44’s validity by comparing scores with those from other scales that measure attitudes toward suicide.

References

Rogers, J. R., & Kessler, R. C. (1991). “Attitudes Towards Suicide: Development and validation of the ATS-44.” Journal of Clinical Psychology. The original study describing the development and evaluation of ATS-44.
Beck, A. T., & Weisman, A. (1974). “Suicidal Ideation in Clinical Populations.” Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. Examines clinical attitudes and beliefs about suicide.
Joiner, T. E. (2005). “Why People Die by Suicide.” Harvard University Press. Provides context for understanding the causes and attitudes toward suicide.