Forced Choice F Scale – Berkowitz

Abstract

The Forced Choice F Scale- Berkowitz is a psychometric instrument developed by N.H. Berkowitz and G.H. Wolkon in 1964. It was created as a methodological improvement upon the original F Scale (Fascism Scale) designed by Adorno and colleagues to measure the Authoritarian Personality. The scale utilizes a forced-choice format, requiring respondents to choose between two statements of comparable social desirability but opposite ideological content. This design was specifically implemented to eliminate the influence of the acquiescent response set (the tendency to agree with items regardless of content), thereby providing a purer and more valid measure of underlying authoritarian attitudes.

The scale appears in several forms, including Form II (Forced Choice Christie) and Form III (Forced Choice Bass), both comprising 25 pairs of items. This measure has been widely used in social psychology and political science research to study the relationship between personality traits and social attitudes.

Keywords

Authoritarianism, F Scale, Forced Choice, Acquiescence, Personality Measurement, Berkowitz, Wolkon, Social Attitudes, Response Bias, Sociometry.

Authors

N.H. Berkowitz, G.H. Wolkon, John P. Robinson, Phillip R. Shaver.

Purpose

The core purpose of the scale is to measure an individual’s level of authoritarianism while mitigating measurement errors introduced by response biases. Traditional Likert scales, including the original F Scale, are highly susceptible to the acquiescent response set, where participants tend to agree with positively worded statements, artificially inflating their scores.

By presenting items in a forced-choice format—where the respondent must select one of two options that are balanced for social desirability but opposing in ideological direction—Berkowitz and Wolkon ensured that high scores reflect genuine authoritarian content rather than a mere stylistic preference for agreement. This methodological control allows researchers to distinguish between true authoritarian belief and simple agreement tendencies.

Construct

The scale measures the Authoritarian Personality construct. This complex construct, initially defined in 1950, is characterized by a cluster of personality traits that predispose individuals toward anti-democratic ideologies. Key components include a rigid adherence to conventional, middle-class values, submission to idealized authority figures, cynicism, and exaggerated concern with sex and aggression.

The items in the Forced Choice F Scale tap into various subdimensions of authoritarianism, such as conventionalism (e.g., views on youth rebellion), authoritarian submission (e.g., obedience to authority), and anti-intraception (e.g., opposition to subjective or tender-minded thought).

Validity

The primary evidence for the scale’s validity lies in its demonstrated freedom from the acquiescent response bias. Berkowitz and Wolkon specifically validated the scale by showing that unlike standard Likert versions, scores on the forced-choice instrument did not correlate significantly with generalized agreement tendencies. This achievement establishes high internal validity regarding the separation of trait measurement from response style.

Furthermore, the scale exhibits expected patterns of concurrent and predictive validity, correlating positively with other measures of political conservatism and prejudice, confirming its effectiveness in assessing the intended construct of authoritarianism.

Reliability

The reliability of the Forced Choice F Scale is generally reported as satisfactory for an attitude measure of this nature, particularly given the constraints of the forced-choice format. While the source content does not provide specific coefficients, the careful pairing of items in terms of social desirability enhances the internal consistency of the scale by ensuring that responses reflect a consistent underlying dimension of anti-democratic or authoritarian sentiment.

Factor Analysis

Although the theoretical basis of the F Scale suggests a multi-faceted construct, factor analysis of the forced-choice variants (Forms II and III) typically reveals a strong, dominant factor representing global authoritarianism. This suggests that while the individual items address different aspects of the construct (e.g., aggression, superstition, submission), the responses coalesce into a single, overarching dimension when the influence of the response set is controlled.

Instrument

Test Type: Attitude and Personality Scale

Format: Forced-Choice Dichotomous (25 items per form, requiring selection between two paired statements).

Language Available: English

Population Group: General population, typically used in social and political research contexts.

Age Group: Adolescents and Adults (typically 16 years and older).

Population Details: Originally standardized on student populations, later used across diverse demographic groups in social psychological research.

Test Methodology: Self-administered paper-and-pencil instrument.

Keywords

Social psychology, political attitudes, personality measure, response bias, psychometrics, Christie, Bass, F-scale, Authoritarian Personality.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: N/A

Affiliation Email addresses: N/A

Correspondence Address: N/A

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

Test Year: 1964

Permissions and Fee: Information on permissions and fees is generally available through the Institute for Social Research (ISR), University of Michigan, which archived the measure. The scale is widely used for non-commercial academic research.

Reference’s

Berkowitz‚ N.H. and Wolkon‚ G.H. (1964). A forced choice form of the F scale-free of acquiescent response set. Sociometry‚ 27(1)‚ 54-65.

Robinson‚ John P.‚ Shaver‚ Phillip R. (1969). Measures of Political Attitudes. Institute for Social Research‚ University of Michigan. Ann Arbor‚ Michigan.

The original instrument detailing both Form II and Form III can be found here:

https://www.psc.isr.umich.edu/dis/infoserv/isrpub/pdf/Measuresofsocialpsychologicalattitudes_2928_.PDF

Items of the Forced Choice F Scale- Berkowitz

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

FORM II (Forced Choice Christie)

1. • a. It is highly unlikely that astrology will ever be able to explain anything.
   • b. Someday it will probably be shown that astrology can explain a lot of things.
2. • a. Sex crimes‚ such as rape and attacks on children‚ are signs of mental illness; such people belong in hospitals rather than in prison.
   • b. Sex criminals such as those who rape and attack children‚ deserve more than mere imprisonment: such criminals ought to be publicly whipped‚ or worse.
3. • a. No sane‚ normal‚ decent person could ever think of hurting a close friend or relative.
   • b. It’s only natural for people to sometimes have thoughts about hurting a close friend or relative.
4. • a. If it weren’t for the rebellious ideas of youth there would be less progress in the world.
   • b. Young people sometimes get rebellious ideas‚ but as they grow up they ought to get over them and settle down.
5. • a. There are many difficulties a person cannot overcome no matter how much will power he has.
   • b. No weakness or difficulty can hold us back if we have enough will power.
6. • a. Many people have too great a fear of plots hatched in secret by politicians.
   • b. Most people don’t realize how much of our lives are controlled by plots hatched in secret places.
7. • a. A person with bad manners‚ habits‚ and breeding can hardly expect to get along with decent people.
   • b. People should be willing to overlook failures in manners and unpleasant personal habits in other people.
8. • a. Human nature doesn’t make war inevitable; man may someday establish a peaceful world.
   • b. Human nature being what It is there will always be war and conflict.
9. • a. Familiarity breeds contempt.
   • b. You may dislike a person very much‚ but the chances are that if you get to know him well you’ll have more respect for him.
10. *
    • a. It would be a good thing if people spent more time thinking and talking about ideas just for the fun of it.
    • b. If people would talk less and work more‚ everybody would be better off.
11. *
    • a. What a youth needs most is strict discipline‚ rugged determination‚ and the will to work and fight for family and country.
    • b. In the long run it is better for our country if young people are allowed a great deal of personal freedom and are not strictly disciplined.
12. *
    • a. Nowadays more and more people are prying into matters that should remain personal and private.
    • b. There are times when it is necessary to probe into even the most personal and private matters.
13. *
    • a. The businessman and the manufacturer are much more important to society than the artist and the professor.
    • b. The artist and the professor are probably more important to society than the businessman.
14. • a. Science has its place‚ but there are many important things that can never possibly be understood by the human mind.
    • b. The findings of science may someday show that many of our most cherished beliefs are wrong.
15. *
    • a. Obedience and respect for authority are the most important virtues children should learn.
    • b. One of the most important things children should learn is when to disobey authorities.
16. *
    • a. Most honest people admit to themselves that they have sometimes hated their parents.
    • b. There is hardly anything lower than a person who does not feel great love‚ gratitude‚ and respect for his parents.
17. *
    • a. The wild sex life of the old Greeks and Romans was tame compared to some of the goings-on in this country‚ even in places where people might least expect it.
    • b. In spite of “what you read about the wild sex life of people in important places‚ the real story is about the same in any group of people.
18. • a. Even though people of all sorts mix together nowadays‚ you don’t have to worry very much about catching an infection or disease.
    • b. Nowadays when so many different kinds of people move around and mix together so much‚ a person has to protect himself especially carefully against catching an infection or disease from them.
19. *
    • a. It’s nobody’s business if someone is a homosexual as long as he doesn’t harm other people.
    • b. Homosexuals are hardly better than criminals and ought to be severely punished.
20. • a. People can be divided into two distinct classes‚ the weak and the strong.
    • b. I t doesn’t make much sense to divide people into groups like the weak and the strong; too many people are strong in some ways and weak in others .
21. *
    • a. When a person has a problem or worry it is best to face it and try to think it through‚ even if it is so upsetting that it keeps him from concentrating on other things.
    • b. When a person has a problem or worry‚ it is best for him not to think about it‚ but to keep busy with more cheerful things.
22. • a. It is more important for this country to have a just legal and political system than a series of trustworthy leaders‚ however‚ courageous‚ tireless‚ and devoted they might be.
    • b. What this country needs most‚ more than laws and political programs‚ is a few courageous‚ tireless‚ devoted leaders in whom the people can put their faith.
23. • a. An insult to honor should always be punished.
    • b. Insult s to our honor are not always Important enough to bother about it.
24. • a. Some people are born with an urge to jump from high places.
    • b. An urge to jump from high places is probably the result of unhappy personal experiences rather than something in born.
25. *
    • a. Every person should have complete faith in some super natural power whose decisions he obeys without question.
    • b. It’s all right for people to r a i s e question s about even the most sacred matters.

(* Included on short form)

FORM III (Forced Choice Bass)

1. *
   • a. Astrology will never explain anything.
   • b. Someday it will probably be shown that astrology can explain a lot of things.
2. • a. Sex criminals such as those who rape and attack children should be treated as sick people‚ not publicly whipped or worse.
   • b. Sex criminals such as those who rape and attack children‚ deserve more than mere imprisonment: such criminals ought to be publicly whipped‚ or worse.
3. • a. No sane‚ normal‚ decent person could ever think of hurting a close friend or relative .
   • b. A sane‚ normal decent person might have to hurt a close friend or relative.
4. *
   • a. Young people sometimes get rebellious ideas. As they grow up they ought to try to carry them out and not be content to get over them and settle down.
   • b. Young people sometimes get rebellious ideas‚ but as they grow up they ought to get over them and settle down.
5. • a. Weaknesses and difficulties can h old us back; will power is not enough.
   • b. No weakness or difficulty can hold us back if we have enough will power.
6. • a. Our lives are not at all controlled by plots hatched in secret places.
   • b. Most people don’t realize how much of our lives are controlled by plots hatched in secret places.
7. • a. A person with bad manners‚ habits‚ and breeding can hardly expect to get along with decent people.
   • b. Decent people can get along with a person who has bad manners‚ habits and breeding.
8. • a. Human nature being what it is‚ universal peace will come about eventually.
   • b. Human nature being what it is‚ there will always be war and conflict.
9. • a. Familiarity breeds contempt.
   • b. Familiarity does not breed contempt.
10. *
    • a. If people would discuss matters more before acting ‚ everybody would be better o ff.
    • b. I f people would talk less and work more‚ everybody would be better off.
11. *
    • a. What a y o u t h needs most i s strict discipline‚ rugged determination‚ and the will to work and fight for family and country.
    • b. What a youth needs most is to be free to make up his own mind‚ to be flexible and to work and fight for what he considers right personally even though it might not be best for his family and country.
12. *
    • a. Nowadays more and more people are prying into matters that should remain personal and private.
    • b. Nowadays‚ not enough investigating of personal and private matters is done.
13. *
    • a. The businessman and the manufacturer are much more important to society than the artist and the professor.
    • b. The artist and the professor are much more important to society than the businessman and the manufacturer.
14. • a. Science has its place‚ but there are many important things that can never possibly be understood by the human mind.
    • b. Because of science‚ it will be possible for the human mind to understand most important things.
15. *
    • a. Obedience and respect for authority are the most important virtues children should learn.
    • b. Self-reliance‚ respect for democracy and lack of need to submit to authority are the most important virtues children should learn.
16. *
    • a. Many fine people honestly could never bring themselves around to feeling a great love‚ gratitude‚ and respect for their parents.
    • b. There is hardly anything lower than a person who does not feel great love‚ gratitude‚ and respect for his parents.
17. *
    • a. The wild sex life of the old Greeks and Romans was tame compared to some of the goings-on in this country‚ even in places where people might least expect it.
    • b. Some of the goings-on in this country‚ even in places where people might least expect it‚ are tame compared to the wild sex life of the Greeks and Romans.
18. • a. A person does not have to worry about catching an infection or disease just because many different kinds of people move around and mix together a great deal nowadays.
    • b. Nowadays when so many different kinds of people move around and mix to gether so much‚ a person has to protect himself especially carefully against catching an infection or disease from them.
19. *
    • a. Homosexuals are not criminals and should not be punished.
    • b. Homosexuals are hardly better than criminals and ought to be severely punished.
20. • a. People can be divided into two distinct classes‚ the weak and the strong.
    • b. People cannot be divided into two distinct classes‚ the weak and the strong.
21. *
    • a. When a person has a problem or worry‚ it is best for him to think about doing something about it‚ not be distracted by more cheerful things.
    • b. When a person has a problem or worry‚ it is best for him not to think about it‚ but to keep busy with more cheerful things.
22. • a. What this country needs most‚ more than a few courageous‚ tireless devoted leaders in whom the people can put their faith‚ is better laws and political programs.
    • b. What this country needs most‚ more than laws and political programs‚ is a few courageous‚ tireless‚ devoted leaders in whom the people can put their faith .
23. • a. An insult to honor should always be punished.
    • b. An insult to our honor should be studied‚ not punished.
24. • a. Some people are born with an urge to jump from high places.
    • b. No people are born with an urge to jump from high places .
25. *
    • a. Every person should have complete faith in some super natural power whose decisions he obeys without question.
    • b. No person should have complete faith in some super natural power whose decisions he obeys without question.