Measuring Paranormal Beliefs: Reconceptualization and Empirical Validation of the Paranormal Belief Construct

Authors

Hugo Matas, Human Evolution and Cognition Group (EvoCog), University of the Balearic Islands and IFISC, Associated Unit to CSIC, Palma, Spain
Enric Munar, Human Evolution and Cognition Group (EvoCog), University of the Balearic Islands and IFISC, Associated Unit to CSIC, Palma, Spain
Lluis Ballester, Department of Pedagogy and Specific Didactics, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain
Maria José Hernández-Lloreda, Department of Methodology of Behavioral Sciences at the Faculty of Psychology of the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), Spain

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2024

Abstract

The Revised Paranormal Belief Scale (RPBS) is the most widely-used tool for measuring beliefs in paranormal phenomena, although it is not free from criticism. Lindeman and Aarnio (2006) proposed an extended version of the RPBS with some improvements and a second-order hierarchical model to explain the structure of the scale. Our objective was to analyze the goodness of fit of the model and measurement invariance by sex in a Spanish sample. A sample of 6,584 participants completed the extended RPBS. After reversed items were removed, the model demonstrated an adequate fit, significant factor loadings and invariance between sexes. The results suggest the possibility of generalizing the RPBS to other cultures. Nonetheless, further research is needed to agree a precise definition of the concept of paranormal beliefs.

Recommended Citation

Matas, Hugo; Munar, Enric; Ballester, Lluis; and Hernández-Lloreda, Maria José, "Measuring Paranormal Beliefs: Reconceptualization and Empirical Validation of the Paranormal Belief Construct" (2024). International Journal of Transpersonal Studies Advance Publication Archive. 85.
https://digitalcommons.ciis.edu/advance-archive/85