Generalized Belief Measure – GBM
Measures the strength of an individual's belief in a specific proposition or statement.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Generalized Belief Measure – GBM was developed by James C. McCroskey & Virginia P. Richmond (1996). It is designed to measure Belief Strength. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 5 items.
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = 1 (Left Anchor), 2 = 2, 3 = 3, 4 = 4, 5 = 5, 6 = 6, 7 = 7 (Right Anchor).
The scale includes 3 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 5 to 35. Interpretation guidelines:
- Weak Belief / Disbelief: 5 – 14
- Moderate / Neutral Belief: 15 – 25
- Strong Belief: 26 – 35
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Typically > .90.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 2 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.