Tool Construction: Perceived Stigmatisation and Discrimination Scale

Abstract

Stigmatization and discrimination are an injustice that individuals go through that has to be eradicated from the society. One path to reduce is to create awareness about the subjective experience of discrimination in day to day life. This study aimed to develop a reliable and valid tool to measure perceived stigmatization and discrimination among individuals which helps to build awareness. The 25 – item Perceived Stigmatization and Discrimination Scale (PSDS) was constructed based on a thorough review of existing literature and expert interviews The scale was administered to a diverse sample of participants (N = 336) to assess its psychometric properties. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were employed to assess the underlying structure of the scale and evaluate its psychometric properties. Results indicate that the PSDS has good internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = .940) and construct validity, as evidenced by its correlation and confirmatory factor analysis. The PSDS shows promise as a valuable tool for assessing the subjective experience of stigmatization and discrimination of individuals in various contexts within the Indian culture, with implications for research and interventions aimed at reducing these phenomena.