Reliability and validity of a scale for attitudes regarding traditional Japanese male roles

Abstract

In many foreign studies, traditional male roles are measured through multiple constructs. However, these constructs are not organized, and the reliability and validity of these scales have not been verified in Japan. This study sought to rearrange the constructs of traditional male roles, develop a scale to match these constructs, and verify its reliability and validity. Based on existing measures, traditional male roles are composed of five factors: high social status; physical and psychological toughness; high agency; low effeminacy; and superiority over women. In Study 1, by using data obtained from 316 undergraduate students, I chose four items for each of the five factors by using confirmatory factor analysis and a scale for attitudes regarding the traditional Japanese male roles was developed. Study 2 verified the scale’s criterion-related validity using data obtained from 361 undergraduate students. T-test showed that men scored higher than women for all factors, implying that men are still bound to traditional male roles. Lastly, Study 3 validated its time-stability. Together, these results indicate that the scale is reliable and valid.