Food Attitude Scale – FAS
Measures general attitudes toward food, including past attitudes, food preferences, and present habits.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Food Attitude Scale – FAS was developed by Donn Byrne, Carole Golightly, & E. J. Capaldi (1963). It is designed to measure Food Attitudes. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 3 items organized into 3 factors/subscales: Past Attitudes and Habits, Food Preferences, Present Attitudes and Habits.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Past Attitudes and Habits | 1 | 1 |
| Food Preferences | 2 | 1 |
| Present Attitudes and Habits | 3 | 1 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a dichotomous True/False format.
The scale includes 1 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 0 to 3. Interpretation guidelines:
- Negative Food Attitude: 0 – 1
- Positive Food Attitude: 2 – 3
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Split-half: .73 (males), .74 (females).
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.