Turkish Adaptation of Criminal Thinking Scales: Validity and Reliability Study

Abstract

The objective of the study is to investigate the psychometric properties of Turkish version of the Criminal Thinking Scales. The sample of study consisted of 627 persons, aged 18 years and over, 295 women and 332 men who declared not received psychiatric diagnosis and/or treatment at the time of the study or in the past. The reliability of the scale was analyzed using Cronbach alpha coefficient. The validity of the scale was examined using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis and criterion-related validity methods. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a factor structure that close to the original form, 23 items and 6 factors: entitlement, criminal rationalization, power orientation, cold heartedness, justifica-tion/blaming others and personal irresponsibility. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that fit values of the model were satisfactory. Cronbach’s alpha for the scale was .79 and ranged from .50 to .74 for the dimensions. In conclusion, the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Criminal Thought Scales was acceptable.

Keywords

• criminal thinking scales
• validity
• reliability