A confirmatory factor analysis of the short form sex role behavior scale

Abstract

The Sex Role Behavior Scale (SRBS; Orlofsky & O'Heron, 1987; Orlofsky, Ramsden, & Cohen, 1982) is the only measure of the extent to which people engage in male- and female-valued behaviors, as well as sex-specific behaviors. Because of this, researchers must be assured of its reliability and validity. Although the SRBS has demonstrated good reliability, validity tests have been limited to examinations of scale intercorrelations, correlations with other gender role measures, and tests of gender differences. Tests of the SRBS's construct validity have not been performed. Thus, a scale-based confirmatory factor analysis of the short form SRBS was undertaken to determine the validity of its proposed 12-factor, lower-order and 3-factor, higher-order factor structures. In this sample of undergraduates, both lower-order and higher-order models failed to provide a good fit to the data, which suggests that a new version of the SRBS may be required. Discussion focussed on possible directions for a revision, potential limitations, as well as the need for more measures like the SRBS.