Scale Overview
The Decisional Balance Scale for Meat Reduction – DB Scale was developed by Anna-Maria Strässner, Christina Hartmann (2023). It is designed to measure Decisional balance for meat reduction. The scale is intended for use with Adult meat eaters.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 20 items organized into 5 factors/subscales: Perceived benefits of a plant-based diet, Downsides of factory farming, Health barriers, Legitimation barriers, Feasibility barriers.
| Factor / Subscale |
Items |
N |
| Perceived benefits of a plant-based diet |
1,2,3,4,5,6 |
6 |
| Downsides of factory farming |
7,8,9,10 |
4 |
| Health barriers |
11,12,13,14 |
4 |
| Legitimation barriers |
15,16,17 |
3 |
| Feasibility barriers |
18,19,20 |
3 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Not at all important, 2 = Slightly important, 3 = Moderately important, 4 = Very important, 5 = Extremely important.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 1 to 5. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Importance: 1 – 2
- Moderate Importance: 3 – 3
- High Importance: 4 – 5
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Cronbach's alpha: Perceived benefits (0.83), Downsides of factory farming (0.79), Health barriers (0.85), Legitimation barriers (0.75), Feasibility barriers (0.70).
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.