Construction and Validation of a Tool for Measuring Prejudice Toward Childfree People

Abstract

The decision not to have children (childfreeness) often comes with experiencing prejudice and discrimination. In order to explore this prejudice, a new tool was constructed (QPCF – Questionnaire of Prejudice Toward Childfree People). All items of the questionnaire were evaluated by competent judges. Next, a Pilot Study ( N = 155) was conducted to verify the factorial structure of the questionnaire and its reliability, which resulted in revising the questionnaire. Then a second Pilot Study ( N = 169) using a revised version of the tool was used to verify its factorial structure and reliability – both of which were satisfactory. Finally, a Validation Study ( N = 216) was conducted which confirmed the factorial structure, internal and test-retest reliability as well as the tool’s theoretical validity (correlation with sexism and dehumanization of childfree people), however, it failed at obtaining a representative sample. This new tool (QPCF) complies with standards established for psychological questionnaires, however, due to the nature of the samples it is prudent to further validate the tool in future studies, to ensure that the questionnaire’s qualities remain when it is applied to a representative sample. The tool however is ready to be used and adapted to other cultures in the future.