Dagnall, N, Denovan, A, Drinkwater, KG and Parker, A (2019) An evaluation of the belief in science scale. Frontiers in Psychology, 10.
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Abstract
The Belief in Science Scale (BISS) is a unidimensional measure that assesses the degree to which science is valued as a source of superior knowledge. Due to increased academic interest in the concept of belief in science, the BISS has emerged as an important measurement instrument. Noting an absence of validation evidence, the present paper, via two studies, evaluated the scale's factorial structure. Both studies drew on data collected from previous research. Study 1 (N = 686), using parallel analysis and exploratory factor analysis, identified a unidimensional solution accounting for 56.43% of the observed variance. Study 2 (N = 535), using an independent sample, tested the unidimensional solution using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Data-model fit was good (marginal for RMSEA): CFI = 0.93, TLI = 0.91, RMSEA = 0.09 (90% CI of 0.08 to 0.10), SRMR = 0.04. Invariance testing across gender supported invariance of form, factor structure, and item intercepts for this one-factor model. BISS at the overall level correlated negatively with the reality testing dimension of the Inventory of Personality Organization (IPO-RT), demonstrating convergent validity. Researchers often use the IPO-RT as an indirect index of preference for experiential processing (intuitive thinking). In this context, only BISS scores above the median (second quartile) produced a reduction in experiential-based thinking. The authors discuss these findings in the context of belief in science as a psychometric construct.
Item Type: | Article |
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Uncontrolled Keywords: | belief in science; convergent validity; psychometric validation; reality testing; thinking style; 1701 Psychology; 1702 Cognitive Sciences |
Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology |
Divisions: | Psychology (from Sep 2019) |
Publisher: | Frontiers Media |
SWORD Depositor: | A Symplectic |
Date Deposited: | 17 Jun 2024 11:26 |
Last Modified: | 17 Jun 2024 11:30 |
DOI or ID number: | 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00861 |
URI: | https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/23568 |
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