| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Description | The Social Distance Scale, developed by Triandis & Triandis (1960), measures the influence of race, religion, nationality, and social class on individuals’ perceptions of social distance. It consists of 15 items focusing on these factors, and it was originally used in a study of college students’ social distance in relation to various social objects. The study included demographic information such as the students’ sex, race, religion, ethnic background, and their parents’ occupation and education. The scale’s unidimensionality was confirmed, with the correlation averaging .855 and Fisher Zs yielding an average of r = .88. |
| Author | Triandis, Harry C.; Triandis, Leigh Minturn |
| Purpose | To assess the role of race, religion, nationality, and social class as factors determining social distance. |
| Construct | Social Distance |
| Instrument Type | Rating Scale |
| Test Format | A 100-point scale |
| Administration Method | Paper |
| Permissions | May use for Research/Teaching |
| Publisher | N/A |
| Test Year | 1960 |
| Web Site | N/A |
| Test Items Available | No, please contact the publisher for further information. |
| Reliability | Reliability of the test is confirmed with correlations ranging from .69 to .96 between different items. The average correlation is .855, and Fisher Zs result in a mean r = .88. |
| Validity | No formal validity was indicated. |
| Factor Analysis | No factor analysis has been conducted. |
| Test Methodology | Test Reliability |
| Classification | Social, Group, and Interpersonal Relationships |
| Age Group | Adulthood (18 years & older) |
| Population Group | Undergraduates in the United States |
| Keywords | Nationality; Prejudice; Race; Religion; Social Class; Social Distance Scale; Test Reliability |
| Index Terms | Expatriates; Prejudice; Race (Anthropological); Racial and Ethnic Groups; Racial and Ethnic Relations; Religion; Social Class; Social Processes |
| Reference | Triandis, H. C., & Triandis, L. M. (1960). Race, social class, religion, and nationality as determinants of social distance. The Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 61(1), 110–118. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0041734 |
Cite this article
Mohammed looti (2026). Social Distance Scale. PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES. Retrieved from https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/social-distance-scale-2/
Mohammed looti. "Social Distance Scale." PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES, 4 Apr. 2026, https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/social-distance-scale-2/.
Mohammed looti. "Social Distance Scale." PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES, 2026. https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/social-distance-scale-2/.
Mohammed looti (2026) 'Social Distance Scale', PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES. Available at: https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/social-distance-scale-2/.
[1] Mohammed looti, "Social Distance Scale," PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES, vol. X, no. Y, ص Z-Z, April, 2026.
Mohammed looti. Social Distance Scale. PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES. 2026;vol(issue):pages.