Scale Overview
The Machiavellianism Scale IV – Mach IV was developed by Richard Christie & Florence L. Geis (1970). It is designed to measure Machiavellianism. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 20 items organized into 3 factors/subscales: Duplicity, Negativism, Distrust of People.
| Factor / Subscale |
Items |
N |
| Duplicity |
2,3,6,7,9,10,15 |
7 |
| Negativism |
1,5,8,12,13,18,20 |
7 |
| Distrust of People |
4,11,14,16 |
4 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Disagree Strongly, 2 = Disagree Somewhat, 3 = Disagree Slightly, 4 = No Response / Neutral, 5 = Agree Slightly, 6 = Agree Somewhat, 7 = Agree Strongly.
The scale includes 10 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 40 to 160. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Machiavellianism (Low Mach): 40 – 99
- Neutral: 100 – 100
- High Machiavellianism (High Mach): 101 – 160
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of 0.79.
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.