Scale Description

The Need to Belong scale (NTBS-10) is a psychometric tool designed to measure an individual’s strong desire to belong to social groups and be accepted by others. The scale consists of 10 statements that assess individuals’ emotional responses and behaviors in social situations where acceptance or rejection is possible. Participants respond to each statement using a Likert scale, ranging from “Not at all true” to “Very true.”

Data Analysis and Use

Data analysis for the NTBS-10 involves calculating a total score that reflects the level of an individual’s need to belong. Researchers use this scale to examine how the need for acceptance influences social interactions, behavior, and psychological well-being. The NTBS-10 is often used in studies to explore the relationship between the need to belong and vulnerability to negative social outcomes, such as rejection or loneliness.

Objective

The objective of the NTBS-10 is to provide a reliable and valid measure of an individual’s need to belong to social groups. This scale helps researchers better understand the implications of this need on social relationships and psychological health.

Calibration

Calibration of the NTBS-10 is conducted using data from various population samples to ensure that the scale is valid and reliable. This process involves analyzing the internal consistency of the scale and testing it in different social and cultural contexts for validation.

Bibliography

Baumeister, R. F., & Leary, M. R. (1995). “The need to belong: Desire for interpersonal attachments as a fundamental human motivation.” Psychological Bulletin, 117(3), 497-529.

Leary, M. R., & Downs, D. L. (1995). “Interpersonal rejection as a determinant of depressive symptoms.” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 68(4), 703-715.

Gardner, W. L., Pickett, C. L., & Brewer, M. B. (2000). “Social exclusion and selective memory: How the need to belong influences memory and cognition.” Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 26(4), 486-496.

Twenge, J. M., & Campbell, W. K. (2009). “Longitudinal changes in self-esteem and related phenomena.” In C. Sedikides & S. J. Spencer (Eds.), The self (pp. 29-59).

Richman, L. S., & Leary, M. R. (2009). “Reactions to social exclusion: A meta-analysis of experimental studies.” Personality and Social Psychology Review, 13(4), 338-357.