Examining the Structural Validity of Stereotype Content Scales – A Preregistered Re-Analysis of Published Data and Discussion of Possible Future Directions

The Stereotype Content Model (SCM) plays a prominent role in social perception research when comparing the evaluation of different targets on warmth and competence dimensions. However, there is scarce information SCM’s measurement properties. Thus, this article, we provide comprehensive test structural validity (i.e., reliability, dimensionality, cross-group comparability properties). We re-analysed published SCM data from English speaking participants (study 1: 78 datasets 43 original publications, N = 20,819) German 2: 29 23 10,854). used confirmatory factor analyses to assess scales’ reliability dimensionality as well invariance assessment examine precondition for meaningful valid mean-value comparison. found average good reliabilities scales. In contrast, about 35% all 1093 examined models presented adequate scale regarding comparability, (partial) scalar 11% cases. These findings indicate considerable concerns research, was not given approximately two thirds cases, comparisons were potentially biased due lacking eight out nine propose future directions improve quality invite fellow researchers constructively discuss these ideas.