AN EXAMINATION OF THE PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES OF THE ATTITUDES TOWARD BLACK MALES SCALE

Author

Christian Hope Bryant, Southern Illinois University CarbondaleFollow

Date of Award

12-2009

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Chwalisz, Kathleen

Abstract

AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF CHRISTIAN H. BRYANT, for the Master of Arts degree in PSYCHOLOGY, presented on 12 NOVEMBER 2009, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. TITLE: AN EXAMINATION OF THE PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES OF THE ATTITUDES TOWARD BLACK MALES SCALE MAJOR PROFESSOR: Dr. Kathleen Chwalisz This survey-based study was conducted in order to examine the utility of the Attitudes Toward Black Males Scale (ATBM; Bryson, 1998). The sample included 224 undergraduate students from a Midwestern university. A principal components analysis was conducted in order to assess the consistency of the current factor structure of the ATBM with the eight-factor structure proposed in Bryson's (1998) scale construction study. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated between the ATBM and other general and Black-specific racial attitude measures in order to assess the construct validity of the ATBM scale. The results of this study did not support the factor structure of the ATBM as identified by Bryson (1998). Therefore, the utility of the Attitudes Toward Black Males Scale is called into questions as an assessment of general racial attitudes toward Black men based on findings with the current sample.