Short Dogmatism Scale – SDS
A 20-item short-form instrument designed to measure dogmatism and closed-mindedness.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Short Dogmatism Scale – SDS was developed by Verling C. Troldahl & Frederic A. Powell (1965). It is designed to measure Dogmatism. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 20 items.
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Agree a little, 2 = Agree on the whole, 3 = Agree very much, 4 = Disagree a little, 5 = Disagree on the whole, 6 = Disagree very much.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 20 to 120. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Dogmatism: 20 – 59
- Moderate Dogmatism: 60 – 89
- High Dogmatism: 90 – 120
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 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.