A Systematic Review of the Psychometric Properties of Composite LGBT Prejudice and Discrimination Scales

ABSTRACT

Prejudice and discrimination against LGBT individuals is widespread and has been shown to have negative consequences for sexual and gender minority persons’ physical and psychological wellbeing. A recent and problematic trend in the literature is to compositely measure prejudice toward and discrimination against LGBT persons. As such, a review of the psychometric properties of scales assessing, in a combinatory fashion, negative attitudes and/or behaviors toward LGBT persons is warranted. In the current study, 32 scales were identified, and their psychometric properties were evaluated. Most of the scales reviewed did not provide sufficient information regarding item development and refinement, scale dimensionality, scale score reliability, or validity. Properties of the reviewed scales are summarized, and recommendations for better measurement practice are articulated.

KEYWORDS:

• Gay
• lesbian
• bisexual
• transgender
• prejudice
• discrimination
• psychometric
• homophobia

Notes

^1. Homonegativity refers to negative attitudes about and/or behaviors toward individuals that are or perceived to be gay or lesbian (Hudson & Ricketts, 1980). This term is preferable to the more commonly used word homophobia because it is broader in scope (i.e., the “phobia” suffix connotes an overwhelming, incapacitating, and irrational fear of gay men and lesbian women).

^2. Binegativity refers to negative attitudes about and/or behaviors toward bisexual individuals or those perceived to be bisexual (Yost & Thomas, 2012). For reasons similar to the one articulated above, we do not endorse use of the word biphobia.

^3. Transnegativity denotes negative attitudes about and/or behaviors toward individuals who do not conform to society’s current gender expectations in appearance and/or identity (King, Winter, & Webster, 2009).

^4. Additional details about the Boolean search terms that were used may be obtained by contacting the senior author.

^5. Dillman’s (2000) principles appear in a chapter dedicated to writing questions for surveys. However, some of these elements are relevant to the writing of scale items to ensure acceptable clarity and accessibility for respondents prior to any pilot testing. Those applicable are listed here.

^6. We recommend that researchers use “gay men,” “lesbian women,” bisexual men,” and “bisexual women” when referring to cisgender persons that self-identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual.

^7. Costa et al. (2016b) provided additional details regarding the development of the PASGD-R that were not provided in Costa, Peroni, De Camargo, Pasley, and Nardi (2015).