Gender Schema Theory and Sex Role Inventories: Some Conceptual and Psychometric Considerations

In this study we assessed whether the Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) and the PRF ANDRO are appropriate for investigations of gender schema theory ( Bem, 1981a ). Because these instruments were developed for entirely different theoretical purposes, it is important to empirically examine the validity o...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of personality and social psychology 1986-01, Vol.50 (1), p.205-211
Main Authors: Larsen, Randy J, Seidman, Edward
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Construct Validity
Female
Gender Identity
Human
Human Sex Differences
Humans
Identification (Psychology)
Male
Personality Inventory
Personality Measures
Psychology
Psychometrics
Sex Roles
Sexes
Social research
Statistical Validity
Stereotyping
Theories
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Summary:In this study we assessed whether the Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) and the PRF ANDRO are appropriate for investigations of gender schema theory ( Bem, 1981a ). Because these instruments were developed for entirely different theoretical purposes, it is important to empirically examine the validity of these measures for investigating the construct of gender schema. On the basis of the propositions of gender schema theory, we made several predictions about the psychometric properties that should be exhibited by a valid measure of this construct. Responses to the PRF ANDRO and the BSRI were factor analyzed separately for sex-typed and non-sex-typed groups. Results show consistent and theoretically predictable differences in the factor solutions of these two groups. The sex-typed or gender-schematic group obtained bipolar factors, with masculine items loading with one sign, whereas feminine items loaded with the other sign on each factor. Also, sex of subject loaded highly on almost every factor for this group. The non-sex-typed group, however, obtained few such distinctly dichotomous factors, and sex of subject loaded only on the weaker factors. Results are interpreted as providing support for the construct validity of at least the BSRI and the PRF ANDRO for use in researching the implications of this approach.
ISSN:0022-3514
1939-1315
DOI:10.1037/0022-3514.50.1.205