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Validation of the Spanish Version of the Generic Conspiracist Beliefs Scale

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 October 2022

Angelo Fasce*
Affiliation:
Universidade de Coimbra (Portugal)
Diego Avendaño
Affiliation:
Pécsi Tudományegyetem (Hungary)
Neil Dagnall
Affiliation:
Manchester Metropolitan University (UK)
Andrew Denovan
Affiliation:
University of Huddersfield (UK)
Álex Escolà-Gascón
Affiliation:
Universitat Ramon Llull (Spain)
*
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Angelo Fasce. Universidade de Coimbra. Faculdade de Medicina. Rua Larga, 2. 3004–504 Coimbra (Portugal). E-mail: afc@fmed.uc.pt
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Abstract

Theorists acknowledge that conspiracy beliefs represent an established psychological construct. The study of conspiracy beliefs is important because allied ideation potentially influences everyday attitudes and behaviors across a range of domains (i.e., cognitive, social, cross-cultural, and political psychology). In this article, we analyze the internal structure and construct validity of the Spanish adaptation of the Generic Conspiracist Beliefs Scale (GCBS). Correlational and confirmatory factor analyses using an international sample of 732 Spanish-speakers revealed a five-factor structure equivalent to the original instrument. Convergent validity was demonstrated using educational level, political orientation, need for uniqueness, and four social axioms (social cynicism, religiosity, reward for application, and fate control). In comparison to two English samples (N = 794 and N = 421), the adaptation demonstrated satisfactory, although restricted, levels of invariance. Accordingly, findings support the use of this translated form of the GCBS with Spanish speakers.

Information

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos de Madrid 2022
Figure 0

Table 1.Back Translation of the Generic Conspiracist Beliefs Scale.

Figure 1

Table 2.Descriptive Statistics of the GCBS

Figure 2

Figure 1.Confirmatory Factor Analysis using the First SampleNote. F1= government malfeasance; F2 = malevolent global conspiracy; F3 = extraterrestrial cover up; F4 = personal wellbeing; F5 = control of information. Error variables are not displayed. Values represent standardized coefficients.

Figure 3

Table 3.Model Fit Indices of the MMSI-2 Internal Structure and Multi-Group Analysis (Spanish Speakers vs. English Sample 1).

Figure 4

Table 4.Model Fit Indices of the MMSI-2 Internal Structure and Multi-Group Analysis (Spanish Speakers vs. English Sample 2).

Figure 5

Table 5.Descriptive Statistics and Direct Contrast of the Differences between the Responses of the Samples used

Figure 6

Figure 2.Quadratic Regression with the GCBS as the Dependent Variable and Political Orientation as the Independent Variable

Figure 7

Table 6.Correlation Matrix between the GCBS and the Predicted Variables