Balanced F Scale
A 28-item self-report scale designed to measure authoritarianism while controlling for acquiescence response bias.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Balanced F Scale was developed by Robert Athanasiou (1968). It is designed to measure Authoritarianism. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 28 items.
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Strongly Disagree, 2 = Disagree, 3 = Slightly Disagree, 4 = Slightly Agree, 5 = Agree, 6 = Strongly Agree.
The scale includes 13 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Item scores are averaged to produce a mean score.
Total scores range from 1 to 6. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Authoritarianism: 1 – 2
- Moderate Authoritarianism: 2 – 4
- High Authoritarianism: 4 – 6
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.