Multidimensional Scale of Anomie (MSA)
Measures individual feelings of social instability, meaninglessness, powerlessness, and the overvaluation of money.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Multidimensional Scale of Anomie (MSA) was developed by Arash Heydari, Iran Davoudi, Ali Teymoori (2011). It is designed to measure Anomie. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 20 items organized into 3 factors/subscales: Meaninglessness and Distrust, Powerlessness, Fetishism of Money.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Meaninglessness and Distrust | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 | 8 |
| Powerlessness | 9,10,11,12,13,14,15 | 7 |
| Fetishism of Money | 16,17,18,19,20 | 5 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a 5-point Likert scale (1 = Strongly Disagree to 5 = Strongly Agree).
The scale includes 2 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 20 to 100. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Anomie: 20 – 45
- Moderate Anomie: 46 – 75
- High Anomie: 76 – 100
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Meaninglessness and Distrust: alpha = 0.79; Powerlessness: alpha = 0.74; Fetishism of Money: alpha = 0.62.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.