Scale Overview
The Stigma Consciousness Questionnaire – SCQ was developed by Elizabeth C. Pinel (1999). It is designed to measure Stigma Consciousness. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 10 items.
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Strongly Disagree, 2 = Somewhat Disagree, 3 = Slightly Disagree, 4 = Neutral, 5 = Slightly Agree, 6 = Somewhat Agree, 7 = Strongly Agree.
The scale includes 7 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Item scores are averaged to produce a mean score.
Total scores range from 1 to 7. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Stigma Consciousness: 1 – 3
- Moderate Stigma Consciousness: 3 – 5
- High Stigma Consciousness: 5 – 7
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Cronbach's alpha of .72 to .81 depending on the target group.
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.