Scale Overview
The Anti-Black Scale – ABS was developed by Irwin Katz & R. Glen Hass (1988). It is designed to measure Racial Prejudice. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 10 items.
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Strongly disagree, 2 = Disagree, 3 = Somewhat disagree, 4 = Somewhat agree, 5 = Agree, 6 = Strongly agree.
The scale includes 2 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Item scores are averaged to produce a mean score.
Total scores range from 1 to 6. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Anti-Black Prejudice: 1 – 2
- Moderate Anti-Black Prejudice: 2 – 4
- High Anti-Black Prejudice: 4 – 6
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Cronbach's alpha of 0.89.
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.