Development and Validation of SERR Scale for Detecting Extremism and Religious Radicalism.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: In line with the growing religious, political and social violence around the world, this study evaluates the psychometric properties of a new scale for Detecting Extremism and Religious Radicalism (SERR), a self-report measure of extremism and religious radicalism. METHOD: Factor analyses, validity and reliability data were collected using a sample of 1985 participants from 58 different cities around Spain who self-identified as actively practicing their religion. RESULTS: Statistical analyses of SERR scores yielded acceptable internal consistency scores (ω > .74) and confirmed key factors associated with radicalism and extremism. The structure of the scale was confirmed as two-dimensional (χ2(64) = 361.22, p < .001, CFI = 0.976, TLI = 0.970, RMSEA (90% CI) = 0.089 (0.080 - 0.098), SRMR = 0.064). Scores for the extremism dimension correlated significantly and positively with scores for the same factor on the Activism and Radicalism Intention Scales (r = .32, p < .001, n = 139). CONCLUSIONS: The SERR demonstrates adequate reliability and validity for evaluating the degree of extremism and radicalism in Christian/Catholic and Muslim believers.