Psychological insight into corruption: construction and validation of the Corrupt Intention Scale (CIS)

Abstract Background Corruption, as a psychosocial problem, impacts institutional stability and interpersonal trust. From a psychological perspective, the study of this phenomenon has focused on analyzing corrupt behavior. However, empirical evidence on the measurement of corrupt behavior remains lim...

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Main Authors: Carlos Ramón Ponce-Díaz, Jesús Joel Aiquipa-Tello, Edgard Fernando Pacheco-Luza
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2025-05-01
Series:Psicologia: Reflexão e Crítica
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s41155-025-00352-3
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author Carlos Ramón Ponce-Díaz
Jesús Joel Aiquipa-Tello
Edgard Fernando Pacheco-Luza
author_facet Carlos Ramón Ponce-Díaz
Jesús Joel Aiquipa-Tello
Edgard Fernando Pacheco-Luza
author_sort Carlos Ramón Ponce-Díaz
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Corruption, as a psychosocial problem, impacts institutional stability and interpersonal trust. From a psychological perspective, the study of this phenomenon has focused on analyzing corrupt behavior. However, empirical evidence on the measurement of corrupt behavior remains limited due to its covert nature. An alternative strategy is to assess corrupt intent, as it allows inferring behavioral patterns without resorting to direct observation of these acts. Objective The aim of this study was to construct and validate the Corrupt Intention Scale (CIS), taking the theory of planned behavior as a framework. Methods We conducted a multiple study with a total of 1, 488 Peruvian adults. Multivariate statistical techniques such as exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis were used. Results We found that the CIS presented evidence of internal structure validity for a 12-item model grouped into three correlated factors. It showed measurement invariance with respect to sex, convergent validity and satisfactory reliability. Conclusion The CIS presents psychometric properties that support its use to measure corrupt intent, and can be used in evaluation, research and prevention contexts. In a global context where corruption remains a critical challenge, reliable and valid measures strengthen the basis for future research and mitigation programs.
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spelling doaj-art-7260a951e7d14c88aa743183c0b520842025-08-20T02:34:15ZengSpringerOpenPsicologia: Reflexão e Crítica1678-71532025-05-0138111310.1186/s41155-025-00352-3Psychological insight into corruption: construction and validation of the Corrupt Intention Scale (CIS)Carlos Ramón Ponce-Díaz0Jesús Joel Aiquipa-Tello1Edgard Fernando Pacheco-Luza2Instituto Científico de Investigación, Universidad Andina del CuscoInstituto Científico de Investigación, Universidad Andina del CuscoInstituto Científico de Investigación, Universidad Andina del CuscoAbstract Background Corruption, as a psychosocial problem, impacts institutional stability and interpersonal trust. From a psychological perspective, the study of this phenomenon has focused on analyzing corrupt behavior. However, empirical evidence on the measurement of corrupt behavior remains limited due to its covert nature. An alternative strategy is to assess corrupt intent, as it allows inferring behavioral patterns without resorting to direct observation of these acts. Objective The aim of this study was to construct and validate the Corrupt Intention Scale (CIS), taking the theory of planned behavior as a framework. Methods We conducted a multiple study with a total of 1, 488 Peruvian adults. Multivariate statistical techniques such as exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis were used. Results We found that the CIS presented evidence of internal structure validity for a 12-item model grouped into three correlated factors. It showed measurement invariance with respect to sex, convergent validity and satisfactory reliability. Conclusion The CIS presents psychometric properties that support its use to measure corrupt intent, and can be used in evaluation, research and prevention contexts. In a global context where corruption remains a critical challenge, reliable and valid measures strengthen the basis for future research and mitigation programs.https://doi.org/10.1186/s41155-025-00352-3Corrupt behaviorCorrupt intentTheory of Planned BehaviorAssessmentPsychometric properties
spellingShingle Carlos Ramón Ponce-Díaz
Jesús Joel Aiquipa-Tello
Edgard Fernando Pacheco-Luza
Psychological insight into corruption: construction and validation of the Corrupt Intention Scale (CIS)
Psicologia: Reflexão e Crítica
Corrupt behavior
Corrupt intent
Theory of Planned Behavior
Assessment
Psychometric properties
title Psychological insight into corruption: construction and validation of the Corrupt Intention Scale (CIS)
title_full Psychological insight into corruption: construction and validation of the Corrupt Intention Scale (CIS)
title_fullStr Psychological insight into corruption: construction and validation of the Corrupt Intention Scale (CIS)
title_full_unstemmed Psychological insight into corruption: construction and validation of the Corrupt Intention Scale (CIS)
title_short Psychological insight into corruption: construction and validation of the Corrupt Intention Scale (CIS)
title_sort psychological insight into corruption construction and validation of the corrupt intention scale cis
topic Corrupt behavior
Corrupt intent
Theory of Planned Behavior
Assessment
Psychometric properties
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s41155-025-00352-3
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