Measuring Belief in Conspiracy Theories

Validation of a French and English Single-Item Scale

Bibliographic Data

ID23333386
AuthorsAnthony Lantian (0000-0001-7855-3914, Université Paris Nanterre), Dominique Muller (0000-0001-9544-5317, Université Savoie Mont Blanc), Cécile Nurra (0000-0001-6830-8851, Université Grenoble Alpes), Karen M Douglas (0000-0002-0381-6924, University of Kent, corresponding author)
Year2016
Volume29
Issue1
Pages1
Publication date2016-02-04
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Review of Social Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0992-986X • E-ISSN: 2119-4130
PublisherUbiquity Press, Ltd. (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.5334/irsp.8
OpenAlexW2263979753
LanguageEN
Citations received94
References cited46

We designed, in French and in English, a single-item scale to measure people’s general tendency to believe in conspiracy theories. The validity and reliability of this scale was assessed in 3 studies (total N = 555). In Study 1 (N = 152), positive correlations between the single-item scale and 3 other conspiracy belief scales on a French student sample suggested good concurrent validity. In Study 2 (N = 292), we replicated these results on a larger and more heterogeneous Internet American sample. Moreover, the scale showed good predictive validity—responses predicted participants’ willingness to receive a bi-monthly newsletter about alleged conspiracy theories. Finally, in Study 3 (N = 111), we observed good test-retest reliability and demonstrated both convergent and discriminant validity of the single-item scale. Overall these results suggest that the single-item conspiracy belief scale has good validity and reliability and may be used to measure conspiracy belief in favor of lengthier existing scales. In addition, the validation of the single-item scale led us to develop and start validating French versions of the Generic Conspiracist Beliefs scale, the Conspiracy Mentality Questionnaire, and a 10-item version (instead of the 15-item original version) of the Belief in Conspiracy Theories Inventory.

Classical test theory · Concurrent validity · Construct validity · Convergent validity · Criterion validity · Developmental psychology · Discriminant validity · Internal consistency · Item response theory · Predictive validity · Psychometrics · Reliability (semiconductor) · Sample (material) · Scale (ratio) · Test (biology) · Test validity · Validity · Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion · Media Influence and Health · Misinformation and Its Impacts · Psychology · Social Psychology

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access