Scale Overview
The Updated Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance Scale – IRMA was developed by Payne, D. L., Lonsway, K. A., & Fitzgerald, L. F. (Updated by McMahon, S., & Farmer, G. L.) (1999). It is designed to measure Rape Myth Acceptance. The scale is intended for use with Adults and adolescents.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 22 items organized into 4 factors/subscales: She asked for it, He didn’t mean to, It wasn’t really rape, She lied.
| Factor / Subscale |
Items |
N |
| She asked for it |
1,2,3,4,5,6 |
6 |
| He didn't mean to |
7,8,9,10,11,12 |
6 |
| It wasn't really rape |
13,14,15,16,17 |
5 |
| She lied |
18,19,20,21,22 |
5 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a 7-point Likert scale (1 = Strongly Disagree to 7 = Strongly Agree).
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 22 to 154. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Acceptance: 22 – 65
- Moderate Acceptance: 66 – 110
- High Acceptance: 111 – 154
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of High (typically Cronbach's alpha > 0.80).
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.