Index of Homophobia Scale

Abstract

The Index of Homophobia (IHP), also known as the Index of Attitudes Toward Homosexuals (IAH), is a concise, short-form psychological instrument developed to quantitatively assess the degree of
homophobia
or nonhomophobic attitudes held by an individual. It specifically measures attitudes related to the fear of being in close proximity or association with homosexuals. Comprising 25
Likert-type items,
the IHP employs a category-partition format, with some items negatively worded to mitigate potential response-set bias. Scores are standardized to range from 0 to 100, where a score of 100 represents the most homophobic position and 0 represents the most nonhomophobic position. The scale is suitable for use with English-speaking populations aged 12 and older.

Keywords

Homophobia, Attitude Measurement, Psychological Scale, IHP, Index of Attitudes Toward Homosexuals, Social Work Assessment, Psychometrics, Sexual Orientation, Social Attitudes

Authors

Wendell A. Ricketts, Walter W. Hudson

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Index of Homophobia (IHP) is to provide a reliable and statistically standardized measure of an individual’s affective and cognitive responses toward homosexual persons and behaviors. This scale is designed to differentiate between individuals who hold homophobic attitudes and those who maintain a nonhomophobic orientation toward human sexual expression.

The resulting score serves as a diagnostic tool, particularly in clinical and research settings, allowing practitioners to quantify the severity of negative attitudes. The instrument is valuable for researchers studying prejudice, social workers addressing client biases, and clinicians working with attitudes related to sexual minority groups.

Construct

The IHP measures the psychological construct of homophobia, defined broadly as a range of negative attitudes, beliefs, and feelings toward lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals. The scale operationalizes this construct through 25 items that gauge comfort levels regarding association, proximity, and acceptance of homosexuals in various social and professional contexts (e.g., neighbors, coworkers, family members, public settings).

The scoring system is calibrated such that scores above the cutting score of 50 indicate the presence of an increasingly homophobic attitude, while scores below 50 reflect an increasingly nonhomophobic orientation. This clear metric allows for precise evaluation of the intensity of the measured prejudice.

Validity

Detailed information regarding the validity of the Index of Homophobia, including content validity, construct validity, and factorial validity, is reported in the WALMYR Assessment Scale Scoring Manual, which is available directly from the publisher.

The source material notes that known groups validity data are not currently available for the IHP scale. Establishing comprehensive construct validity is crucial for psychological instruments, and researchers relying on the IHP are advised to consult the publisher’s manual for the specific psychometric evidence supporting the scale’s structure and interpretation.

Reliability

The internal consistency of the IHP scale is reported as high, demonstrating strong reliability. The calculated Cronbach’s alpha coefficient is 0.90, which indicates excellent consistency among the 25 items.

The Standard Error of Measurement (SEM) for the scale is 4.43. While measures of internal consistency are robust, test-retest reliability data, which would assess the stability of scores over time, are not provided in the primary documentation.

Factor Analysis

Although specific results of the factor analysis are not provided directly in the source content, information concerning the scale’s underlying structure and factorial validity is reported in the WALMYR Assessment Scale Scoring Manual. This suggests that the scale’s dimensionality and the results of any confirmatory or exploratory factor analyses are detailed in the proprietary documentation provided by the publisher.

Instrument

Test Type: Short-form self-report inventory / Category-partition scale

Format: 25 Likert-type items (relative frequency scale)

Language Available: English

Population Group: General population

Age Group: 12 years or older

Population Details: Usable with all English-speaking populations.

Test Methodology: Pencil-and-paper questionnaire completed in approximately 5–7 minutes.

Keywords

Ricketts, Hudson, Attitude Scale, Measurement of Prejudice, IAH, Likert Scale, Psychological Assessment, Clinical Tool

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not provided in source content.

Affiliation Email addresses: [email protected] (WALMYR Publishing Co.)

Correspondence Address: WALMYR Publishing Co., P.O. Box 12217, Tallahassee, FL 32317-2217

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The Index of Homophobia (IHP) is a copyrighted commercial assessment scale. Strict restrictions apply to its use: it may not be copied, reproduced, altered, or translated. Furthermore, the scale is prohibited from being administered online or placed on a website for public use.

The scale may be purchased in tear-off pads of 50 copies each for $22.50 from the publisher, WALMYR Publishing Co., via their website: www.walmyr.com. The scale was initially published and validated in 1980 by Hudson and Ricketts.

The appropriate use of all WALMYR assessment scales is restricted to qualified professional practitioners, researchers, scholars, and those engaged in supervised study and training. They are not intended for use by untrained individuals.

Reference’s

• Hudson, W. W., & Ricketts, W. A. (1980). A strategy for the measurement of homophobia. Journal of Homosexuality, 5, 357–372.

• Nurius, P. S., & Hudson, W. W. (1993), Human services practice, evaluation & computers. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.

Items of the Index of Homophobia scale

The Index of Attitudes Toward Homosexuals (IAH) is administered using the following response mode:

• 1 = Strongly agree

• 2 = Agree

• 3 = Neither agree nor disagree

• 4 = Disagree

• 5 = Strongly disagree

The following 25 items constitute the scale:

1. I would feel comfortable working closely with a male homosexual.

2. I would enjoy attending social functions at which homosexuals were present.

3. I would feel uncomfortable if I learned that my neighbor was homosexual.

4. If a member of my sex made a sexual advance toward me I would feel angry.

5. I would feel comfortable knowing that I was attractive to members of my sex.

6. I would feel uncomfortable being seen in a gay bar.

7. I would feel comfortable if a member of my sex made an advance toward me.

8. I would be comfortable if I found myself attracted to a member of my sex.

9. I would feel disappointed if I learned that my child was homosexual.

10. I would feel nervous being in a group of homosexuals.

11. I would feel comfortable knowing that my clergyman was homosexual.

12. I would be upset if learned that my brother or sister was homosexual.

13. I would feel that I had failed as a parent if I learned that my child was gay.

14. If I saw two men holding hands in public I would feel disgusted.

15. If a member of my sex made an advance toward me I would be offended.

16. I would feel comfortable if I learned that my daughter’s teacher was a lesbian.

17. I would feel uncomfortable if I learned that my spuse or partner was attracted to members of his or her sex.

18. I would feel at ease talking with a homosexual person at a party.

19. I would feel uncomfortable if I learned that my boss was homosexual.

20. It would not bother me to walk through a predominantly gay section of town.

21. It would disturb me to find out that my doctor was homosexual.

22. I would feel comfortable if I learned that my best friend of my sex was homosexual.

23. If a member of my sex made an advance toward me I would feel flattered.

24. I would feel uncomfortable knowing that my son’s male teacher was homosexual.

25. I would feel comfortable working closely with a female homosexual.

Note on Scoring: Items 3, 4, 6, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21 and 24 are reverse scored.