Scale Overview
The Attitudes Toward Guns and Violence Questionnaire – ATGVQ was developed by Jeremy P. Shapiro (2000). It is designed to measure Attitudes toward guns and violence. The scale is intended for use with Students in grades 3-12.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 23 items organized into 4 factors/subscales: Aggressive Response to Shame, Excitement, Comfort with Aggression, Power/Safety.
| Factor / Subscale |
Items |
N |
| Aggressive Response to Shame |
1,2,5,10,15,16,18,20 |
8 |
| Excitement |
6,7,9,11,14 |
5 |
| Comfort with Aggression |
8,12,13,17,21,22 |
6 |
| Power/Safety |
3,4,19,23 |
4 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 0 = Disagree, 1 = Not sure, 2 = Agree.
The scale includes 6 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 0 to 46. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low attraction to guns and violence: 0 – 15
- Moderate attraction to guns and violence: 16 – 30
- High attraction to guns and violence: 31 – 46
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.