Open AccessTransnational evaluation of the Sympathy for Violent Radicalization Scale: Measuring population attitudes toward violent radicalization in two countries
Author(s) -
Rochelle L. Frounfelker,
Thomas Frissen,
Diana Miconi,
Jordan Lawson,
Robert T. Brennan,
Leen d’Haenens,
Cécile Rousseau
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
transcultural psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.829
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1461-7471
pISSN - 1363-4615
DOI - 10.1177/13634615211000550
Subject(s) - radicalization , psychology , sympathy , population , confirmatory factor analysis , scale (ratio) , social psychology , poison control , structural equation modeling , demography , sociology , political science , medicine , terrorism , geography , statistics , environmental health , mathematics , cartography , law
Countering violent radicalization is a priority in many countries, prompting research that assesses attitudes and beliefs about violent radicalization in the general population. The majority of violent radicalization assessments have been developed among specific populations, with limited investigation into the generalizability and cross-cultural applicability of measurement tools. A transcultural investigation raises questions about the implicit assumptions and norms that inform instrument development. This research examined the psychometric properties of the Sympathy for Violent Radicalization Scale (SyfoR), a measure developed for use with Pakistani and Bangladeshi immigrant groups in the UK, in two convenience samples of youth and young adults in North America and Western Europe. We investigated the factor structure, reliability, and construct validity of adapted versions of the SyfoR among convenience samples of youth and young adults living in Belgium ( N = 2014) and in Quebec, Canada ( N = 1364) via online surveys administered to students engaged in secondary and post-secondary education. Results indicate that, in both samples, a reduced, 8-item version of the SyfoR has a 3-factor structure with good model fit statistics using confirmatory factor analysis and good internal consistency reliability. More studies are needed to assess the appropriateness of the SyfoR for use in diverse contexts and among diverse populations. The potential usefulness and harmfulness of measures of violent radicalization should balance the benefits of obtaining local data with the risks associated with pathologizing social dissent.