A New F (Authoritarianism) Scale
A self-report personality inventory designed to measure authoritarianism and its sub-dimensions, including conventionality, submission, aggression, and rigidity.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The A New F (Authoritarianism) Scale was developed by Harold Webster, Nevitt Sanford, and Mervin Freeman (1955). It is designed to measure Authoritarianism. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 149 items organized into 13 factors/subscales: Compulsiveness, Punitive Morality, Authoritarian Submission, Conventionality, Religious Fundamentalism, Anti-Intraception, Ego-Alien Symptomatology, Lack of Self-Confidence, Projectivity, Cynicism, Romanticism, Circumscribed Aggression, Sense of Victimization.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsiveness | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20 | 20 |
| Punitive Morality | 21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31 | 11 |
| Authoritarian Submission | 32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46 | 15 |
| Conventionality | 47,48,49,50,51,52,53,54,55,56,57,58,59,60,61,62,63,64,65,66,67,68,69,70 | 24 |
| Religious Fundamentalism | 71,72,73,74,75,76,77,78,79 | 9 |
| Anti-Intraception | 80,81,82,83,84,85,86,87,88 | 9 |
| Ego-Alien Symptomatology | 89,90,91,92,93,94,95,96,97 | 9 |
| Lack of Self-Confidence | 98,99,100,101,102,103,104,105,106,107 | 10 |
| Projectivity | 108,109,110,111,112,113 | 6 |
| Cynicism | 114,115,116,117,118,119,120,121,122,123,124,125,126,127,128,129 | 16 |
| Romanticism | 130,131,132,133 | 4 |
| Circumscribed Aggression | 134,135,136,137,138,139,140 | 7 |
| Sense of Victimization | 141,142,143,144,145,146,147,148,149 | 9 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a dichotomous True/False format.
The scale includes 13 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 149. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Authoritarianism: 0 – 49
- Moderate Authoritarianism: 50 – 99
- High Authoritarianism: 100 – 149
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Not specified.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.