An investigation on the validity of two self-report questionnaires on attitudes and perceptions towards sex offenders

Background and aims: Sex offenders cause many problems at the individual and social level. The availability of appropriate assessment tools is one of the most important necessities for identifying and designing effective interventions and programs for the prevention and management of sexual crimes....

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Main Authors: Maryam Bakhtiari, Amin Sohrabzadeh, Meysam Bazani, Arezoo Hosseini
Format: Article
Language:fas
Published: Iran Air Force Health Administration 2021-12-01
Series:فصلنامه ابن سینا
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Online Access:http://ebnesina.ajaums.ac.ir/article-1-989-en.pdf
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author Maryam Bakhtiari
Amin Sohrabzadeh
Meysam Bazani
Arezoo Hosseini
author_facet Maryam Bakhtiari
Amin Sohrabzadeh
Meysam Bazani
Arezoo Hosseini
author_sort Maryam Bakhtiari
collection DOAJ
description Background and aims: Sex offenders cause many problems at the individual and social level. The availability of appropriate assessment tools is one of the most important necessities for identifying and designing effective interventions and programs for the prevention and management of sexual crimes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the validity of two questionnaires about attitudes as well as perceptions of sex offenders. Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 250 individuals from all adults living in Tehran were selected by available sampling method and completed the questionnaires online. Attitudes toward sexual offenders (ATS) and perceptions of sex offenders (PSO) scales were completed by participants, and data were analyzed using mean (± standard deviation), Pearson’s correlation test, independent t-test, content validity index, content validity ratio, and confirmatory factor analysis in SPSS and AMOS softwares. Results: Factor structure of ATS (trust, intent, and social distance) (RMSEA=0.045) and PSO (sentencing and management, stereotype endorsement, and the risk perception) towards sex offenders (RMSEA=0.077) was confirmed. Both scales had a good content validity. Also, a good reliability coefficient, from 0.61 to 0.85, was obtained for all factors. Factors had a moderate to strong correlations. Conclusion: The findings show that these two scales are valid tools for measuring the attitudes and perceptions towards sex offenders that can be used for this purpose.
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spelling doaj-art-e430fc806efe4bb4bb44f374e443e7162025-08-20T02:47:05ZfasIran Air Force Health Administrationفصلنامه ابن سینا1735-95032645-46532021-12-012345460An investigation on the validity of two self-report questionnaires on attitudes and perceptions towards sex offendersMaryam Bakhtiari0Amin Sohrabzadeh1Meysam Bazani2Arezoo Hosseini3 Associate professor, Department of Clinical Psychology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran PhD in clinical psychology, Department of Clinical Psychology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran PhD in clinical psychology, Department of Clinical Psychology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran MSc in clinical psychology, Department of Clinical Psychology, School of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran Background and aims: Sex offenders cause many problems at the individual and social level. The availability of appropriate assessment tools is one of the most important necessities for identifying and designing effective interventions and programs for the prevention and management of sexual crimes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the validity of two questionnaires about attitudes as well as perceptions of sex offenders. Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 250 individuals from all adults living in Tehran were selected by available sampling method and completed the questionnaires online. Attitudes toward sexual offenders (ATS) and perceptions of sex offenders (PSO) scales were completed by participants, and data were analyzed using mean (± standard deviation), Pearson’s correlation test, independent t-test, content validity index, content validity ratio, and confirmatory factor analysis in SPSS and AMOS softwares. Results: Factor structure of ATS (trust, intent, and social distance) (RMSEA=0.045) and PSO (sentencing and management, stereotype endorsement, and the risk perception) towards sex offenders (RMSEA=0.077) was confirmed. Both scales had a good content validity. Also, a good reliability coefficient, from 0.61 to 0.85, was obtained for all factors. Factors had a moderate to strong correlations. Conclusion: The findings show that these two scales are valid tools for measuring the attitudes and perceptions towards sex offenders that can be used for this purpose.http://ebnesina.ajaums.ac.ir/article-1-989-en.pdfsex offensesreliability and validityperceptionattitude
spellingShingle Maryam Bakhtiari
Amin Sohrabzadeh
Meysam Bazani
Arezoo Hosseini
An investigation on the validity of two self-report questionnaires on attitudes and perceptions towards sex offenders
فصلنامه ابن سینا
sex offenses
reliability and validity
perception
attitude
title An investigation on the validity of two self-report questionnaires on attitudes and perceptions towards sex offenders
title_full An investigation on the validity of two self-report questionnaires on attitudes and perceptions towards sex offenders
title_fullStr An investigation on the validity of two self-report questionnaires on attitudes and perceptions towards sex offenders
title_full_unstemmed An investigation on the validity of two self-report questionnaires on attitudes and perceptions towards sex offenders
title_short An investigation on the validity of two self-report questionnaires on attitudes and perceptions towards sex offenders
title_sort investigation on the validity of two self report questionnaires on attitudes and perceptions towards sex offenders
topic sex offenses
reliability and validity
perception
attitude
url http://ebnesina.ajaums.ac.ir/article-1-989-en.pdf
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