Psychometric Analysis of the Perceptions of Sex Offenders Scale: Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Validity Correlates.

This study is a psychometric analysis of the Perceptions of Sex Offenders (PSO) scale, a reconceptualization of the Community Attitudes Toward Sex Offender scale. Using a student sample, a confirmatory factor analysis was conducted. The initial three-factor data-model fit was poor. To improve fit, o...

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Publicado en:Journal of Child Sexual Abuse Vol. 35; no. 5; pp. 641 - 664
Autores principales: Rye, B. J., Tuer, Amy G., Hertz, Steven
Formato: questionnaire/scale research tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: Taylor & Francis Ltd Jul2026
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      dt: Jul2026
      vid: 35
      iid: 5
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      pub: Taylor & Francis Ltd
      place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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        10.1080/10538712.2026.2683983
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        atl: Psychometric Analysis of the Perceptions of Sex Offenders Scale: Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Validity Correlates.
      aug:
        au:
          Rye, B. J.
          Tuer, Amy G.
          Hertz, Steven
        affil: St. Jerome's University, Waterloo, Canada
      sug:
        subj:
          Public Opinion Evaluation
          Psychometrics Evaluation
          Sex Offenders
          Instrument Validation
          Human
          Scales
          Factor Analysis
          Validation Studies
          Internal Consistency
          Attitude to Risk
          Discriminant Validity
          Concurrent Validity
          Sex Factors
          Convenience Sample
          Male
          Female
          Young Adult
          Cross Sectional Studies
          Data Analysis Software
          Descriptive Statistics
          Chi Square Test
          Funding Source
          Male
          Female
      ab: This study is a psychometric analysis of the Perceptions of Sex Offenders (PSO) scale, a reconceptualization of the Community Attitudes Toward Sex Offender scale. Using a student sample, a confirmatory factor analysis was conducted. The initial three-factor data-model fit was poor. To improve fit, one item was dropped and error terms of several items were allowed to covary, producing acceptable fit indices. Subscales of Sentencing and Management and Stereotype Endorsement demonstrated strong internal consistency metrics, whereas Risk Perception did not achieve adequate reliability until the aforementioned item was omitted. Correlations between the total scale and three subscale scores with various instruments address discriminant and concurrent validity. The total PSO as well as the Sentencing and Management subscale correlated most consistently with compassion for those who offend sexually as well as with various justice beliefs. Conservatism, religiosity, or knowing a person who had perpetrated sexual assault failed to demonstrate substantial correlations with either the total PSO or any subscales. Gender differences in Risk Perception and Stereotype Endorsement were observed and replicated prior research. We conclude that the PSO is a promising research instrument, worthy of use and further investigation.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        questionnaire/scale
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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