A Measure of Autonomy

Abstract

This article reports the development of a measure of individual differences in autonomous rule compliance. The autonomy scale (a short, easily administered CPI based test) was developed within the framework of a multidimensional, role-theoretical model of moral development. Five samples were used in the construction of the scale. Two of the samples (total n = 111) were used to derive the autonomy scale. The items for the scale were derived through the sequential use of two common item selection strategies: criterion keying and factor analysis. An initial set of 55 CPI items were derived using an "idea" autonomy Qsort profile as a selection criterion, and an Alpha factor solution was used to reduce this initial pool to a final set of 25 items. Several analyses were conducted using three additional samples (total n = 245) to estimate the reliability of the scale and determine its validity. The results of these analyses provide initial evidence for the content, criterion-related, and construct validity of the scale and indicate that the measure has an adequate reliability.