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Navigating Ambiguity: Adapting and Validating the Personal Need for Structure Scale in Spanish

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 September 2024

Rafael Gil Open the ORCID record for Rafael Gil [Opens in a new window] ,
Javier Horcajo Open the ORCID record for Javier Horcajo [Opens in a new window] ,
Pablo Nájera Open the ORCID record for Pablo Nájera [Opens in a new window]  and
Miguel A. Sorrel Open the ORCID record for Miguel A. Sorrel [Opens in a new window]
Rafael Gil
Affiliation:
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain)
Javier Horcajo
Affiliation:
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain)
Pablo Nájera
Affiliation:
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain) Universidad Pontificia Comillas (Spain)
Miguel A. Sorrel*
Affiliation:
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain)
*
Corresponding author: Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Miguel Ángel Sorrel Luján. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. Departamento de Psicología Social y Metodología. Email: miguel.sorrel@uam.es
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Abstract

The Personal Need for Structure (PNS) scale assesses individuals’ tendency to seek out clarity and structured ways of understanding and interacting with their environment. The main aim of this study was to adapt the PNS scale to Spanish and assess its psychometric properties. There are two versions of the PNS scale being used, which vary in the number of dimensions (1 vs. 2), and in the number of items (12 vs. 11; because one version excludes Item 5). Therefore, an additional aim of this study was to compare the two existing versions of the PNS scale. This comparison aimed to address the debate regarding the inclusion of Item 5, and the number of dimensions that comprise the PNS scale. A sample of 735 individuals was collected. First, through an approach combining exploratory and confirmatory analyses, evidence was found in favor of the scale being composed of two related but distinguishable factors: Desire for Structure and Response to the Lack of Structure. Scores on these subscales showed acceptable internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Evidence supporting the invariance of the internal structure across sociodemographic variables such as gender and age was found. Validity evidence was also analyzed by examining the relationships with other relevant measures. The results indicated that Item 5 can be excluded without reducing scores validity or reliability, which supports preceding research in the literature. In conclusion, the PNS scale was satisfactorily adapted to and validated in Spanish and its use in this context is recommended.

Keywords

factor analysispersonal need for structurereliabilityvalidity

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Type
Research Article
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 27 , 2024 , e22
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Colegio Oficial de la Psicología de Madrid

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