Psychometric Properties of the Short Form of the Adult Moral Character Scale

Abstract :

The aim of the present study was to examine the psychometric properties of the short form of the Adult Moral Character Scale. This scale comprises 8 components (etiquette / rudeness, pious / denialist, conscientiousness / procrastination, forgiveness / confrontation, honest / deceptive, sensitivity / indifference, submissive / rebellious, and independent / dependent) and includes 24 items, which were derived from Iranian-Islamic ethical sources and interviews with experts and students. To evaluate the psychometric characteristics of this scale, 412 students (286 women and 126 men) from Shiraz University were selected through multistage cluster random sampling and participated in the study by completing the Moral Character Scale. To examine the construct validity of this scale, confirmatory factor analysis was used, and to determine the criterion validity of the scale, the correlation of component scores and the total score of the moral character scale with the total score and component scores of the moral judgment questionnaire, the cognitive errors questionnaire, and the classroom environment perception questionnaire was used. The data were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis, which confirmed the eight-factor structure of the Moral Character Scale and the correlation of the components and total score of this scale with the tools used showed that this scale has appropriate criterion validity. Additionally, Cronbach's alpha was employed to assess reliability, and the coefficients for all subscales and the total score were found to be sufficient. Thus, the short form of the Moral Character Scale can be effectively used in research studies within the field of moral psychology.

References:

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