Item response theory approach to ethnocentrism

Introduction Although ethnocentrism is one of the fundamental concepts in social sciences, its study has been impeded by a diversity conceptualizations and measures. In recent years, growing number political scientists psychologists have undertaken in-depth research into ethnocentrism. addition, researchers recently proposed comprehensive reconceptualization developed new Ethnocentrism scale. There strong evidence for this scale's reliability validity indexing ethnocentrism, but like most measures psychology science, scale based on classical test theory. Item response theory (IRT) powerful psychometric technique that can provide much more sophisticated performance currently under-utilized research. Methods We performed IRT to assess properties sample 4,187 participants. Results The items had capture latent construct, particularly below average above range. Men required marginally lower levels endorse less socially acceptable than women (items relating superiority, purity, or exploitativeness). When compared liberals, conservatives responded readily nearly all items. Given variation, approach highlighted future measurements must adjust differential item functioning, albeit orientation gender identity. Discussion findings detail how enhance measurement science demonstrate implications ideology may affect