Scale Overview
The Personal Attributes Questionnaire – PAQ was developed by Janet T. Spence, Robert L. Helmreich, & Carole K. Holahan (1979). It is designed to measure Gender Role Identity. The scale is intended for use with Adults and adolescents.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 24 items organized into 3 factors/subscales: Masculinity, Femininity, Masculinity-Femininity.
| Factor / Subscale |
Items |
N |
| Masculinity |
2,6,10,16,17,19,20,24 |
8 |
| Femininity |
3,7,8,9,12,15,21,22 |
8 |
| Masculinity-Femininity |
1,4,5,11,13,14,18,23 |
8 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: A = A (Extreme Left), B = B, C = C, D = D, E = E (Extreme Right).
The scale includes 6 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 32. Interpretation guidelines:
- Subscale Score Range (Each subscale is scored from 0 to 32, with higher scores indicating higher levels of the respective trait): 0 – 32
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Cronbach's alpha typically ranges from .70 to .85 for the subscales.
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.