Homophobia Scale – HS

Abstract

The Homophobia Scale (HS) is a robust, 25-item self-report instrument designed to quantitatively measure the intensity of negative attitudes, beliefs, and affective responses directed toward gay and lesbian individuals. Developed by Wright, Adams, and Bernat in 1999, the HS utilizes a 5-point Likert Scale format for response collection. Psychometrically sound, the scale provides a total score ranging from 0 (indicating the lowest level of prejudice) to 100 (representing the highest level of homophobia). Critically, the HS is structured around three distinct, empirically derived factors—cognitive, affective, and behavioral—offering a comprehensive, multidimensional assessment of anti-gay prejudice.

Keywords

Homophobia, prejudice, attitudes toward homosexuality, psychological assessment, sexual orientation, affective responses, behavioral aggression, cognitive negativism, Likert scale, psychometrics.

Authors

Wright, L. W., Adams, H. E., Bernat, J.

Purpose

The fundamental purpose of the Homophobia Scale (HS) is to serve as a reliable and validated metric for researchers and clinicians seeking to quantify the level of anti-gay prejudice within an individual or a specific population sample. By moving beyond simplistic attitudinal surveys, the HS incorporates measures of behavioral intentions and expressed negative affect, thus providing a highly nuanced perspective on prejudice against gay and lesbian individuals.

This instrument is invaluable in social psychology and related fields for examining the correlations between homophobia and a wide array of demographic, psychological, and social variables. Furthermore, its ability to delineate specific domains of prejudice—such as distinguishing between internalized discomfort, overt aggressive tendencies, and negative cognitive beliefs—makes the HS an effective tool for evaluating the outcomes and efficacy of educational or therapeutic interventions aimed at reducing prejudice.

Construct

The HS is designed to measure the complex, multidimensional construct of Homophobia. The developers defined this construct not merely as an irrational fear, but as a systematic structure of negative attitudes, hostility, and beliefs related to homosexuality and homosexual people. This operational definition ensures that the assessment covers the full spectrum of negative responses.

The underlying theoretical model posits that homophobia is best understood through its three core components: cognitive beliefs (negativism), affective reactions (discomfort/hostility), and behavioral intentions (aggression/avoidance). By assessing these three distinct factors—Behavior/Negative Affect, Affect/Behavioral Aggression, and Cognitive Negativism—the scale successfully captures responses ranging from subtle, passive discomfort to explicit hostility and active aggression.

Validity

The original validation study conducted by Wright et al. (1999) provided substantial evidence supporting the validity of the HS. Construct validity was established through the successful emergence of the intended three-factor structure during factor analysis, confirming that the scale items align with the theoretical dimensions of homophobia. This validity was further supported by expected correlational patterns, showing negative relationships with measures of tolerance and positive relationships with constructs like authoritarianism and general prejudice.

In addition, Criterion validity was demonstrated by the scale’s capacity to effectively differentiate between groups hypothesized to hold varying levels of anti-gay prejudice. The rigorous selection process ensured that items accurately reflected the intended behavioral, affective, and cognitive components, thereby reinforcing the scale’s overall capacity to measure the target construct reliably and accurately.

Reliability

The Homophobia Scale exhibits strong levels of internal consistency, which is a crucial indicator of reliability. Across the total score, the instrument consistently reports a high Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, typically exceeding .90 in the initial validation research. This high coefficient confirms that the 25 items are internally consistent and reliably measure the same underlying construct of homophobia.

Furthermore, internal consistency was generally maintained within the three subscales, confirming that each factor is a coherent and reliable measurement tool for its specific dimension (e.g., behavioral aggression). Subsequent research has also supported the instrument’s stability over time, providing evidence of adequate test-retest reliability essential for its use in longitudinal studies.

Factor Analysis

The developers employed Factor Analysis on the 25 items to reveal the latent structure of the scale, resulting in a robust three-factor solution. This factor structure is essential as it allows researchers to diagnose specific manifestations of prejudicial attitudes rather than relying solely on a global score.

• Factor 1: Behavior/Negative Affect (10 items). This dimension measures general discomfort, feelings of avoidance, and nervous reactions experienced in relation to gay individuals (e.g., items 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 22). Subscale scores range from 0 to 40.
• Factor 2: Affect/Behavioral Aggression (10 items). This dimension captures overtly hostile attitudes, aggressive intent, and feelings of perceived threat or desire to inflict harm (e.g., items 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 24, 25). Subscale scores range from 0 to 40.
• Factor 3: Cognitive Negativism (5 items). This dimension reflects underlying beliefs regarding the moral, legal, or societal standing and acceptability of homosexuality and associated gay rights movements (e.g., items 3, 8, 16, 18, 20). Subscale scores range from 0 to 20.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report Psychological Scale

Format: 25 items rated on a 5-point Likert Scale (1= Strongly agree, 5= Strongly disagree).

Language Available: English (Primary).

Population Group: General population, frequently employed in social psychology research involving college students and non-clinical adults.

Age Group: Adolescents and Adults (typically individuals aged 18 and older).

Population Details: The scale is specifically designed to be applicable across diverse populations, focusing on measuring attitudes toward gay individuals irrespective of the respondent’s own sexual orientation or gender identity.

Test Methodology: A total of 16 items (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 24, and 25) are reverse scored to control for acquiescence bias. The final total scale score is derived by summing responses for items 1 through 25 and then subtracting a constant of 25. This normalization procedure results in a final score ranging from 0 to 100, where higher scores consistently denote greater levels of homophobia.

Keywords

Attitudinal measurement, prejudice scale, sexual identity, gay rights, psychological measurement, psychometrics, attitude assessment, Wright Adams Bernat, social psychology.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not provided in source material.

Affiliation Email addresses: Not provided in source material.

Correspondence Address: Not provided in source material.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The Homophobia Scale (HS) was first published and validated in 1999. As an instrument documented in the public academic domain, it is generally available for non-commercial research use. However, individuals or institutions intending to reproduce or utilize the scale commercially must consult the original publication or contact the authors for explicit permissions. The instrument and additional information can be accessed online at: http://www.midss.org/content/homophobia-scale.

Reference’s

• Wright, L. W., Adams, H. E., & Bernat, J. (1999). Development and validation of the Homophobia Scale. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 21, 337-347.
• Fisher, T. D., Davis, C. M., Yarber, W. L., & Davis, S. L. (2010). Handbook of Sexuality-Related Measures. New York: Routledge.

Items of the Homophobia Scale – HS

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

Scoring Key: 1= Strongly agree, 2= Agree, 3= Neither agree nor disagree, 4= Disagree, 5= Strongly disagree.

Reverse Scored Items: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 24, and 25.

1. Gay people make me nervous.
2. Gay people deserve what they get.
3. Homosexuality is acceptable to me.
4. If I discovered a friend was gay I would end the friendship.
5. I think homosexual people should not work with children.
6. I make derogatory remarks about gay people.
7. I enjoy the company of gay people.
8. Marriage between homosexual individuals is acceptable.
9. I make derogatory remarks like “faggot” or “queer” to people I suspect are gay.
10. It does not matter to me whether my friends are gay or straight.
11. It would not upset me if I learned that a close friend was homosexual.
12. Homosexuality is immoral.
13. I tease and make jokes about gay people.
14. I feel that you cannot trust a person who is homosexual.
15. I fear homosexual persons will make sexual advances towards me.
16. Organizations which promote gay rights are necessary.
17. I have damaged property of gay persons‚ such as “keying” their cars.
18. I would feel comfortable ha‎ving a gay roommate.
19. I would hit a homosexual for coming on to me.
20. Homosexual behavior should not be against the law.
21. I avoid gay individuals.
22. It does not bother me to see two homosexual people together in public.
23. When I see a gay person I think‚ What a waste.”
24. When I meet someone I try to find out if he/she is gay.
25. I have rocky relationships with people that I suspect are gay.