Validation of the Urdu version of the Measure of Criminal Social Identity within a sample of Pakistani incarcerated delinquents
| Published date | 03 May 2016 |
| Pages | 89-99 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JCP-03-2016-0010 |
| Date | 03 May 2016 |
| Author | Sonia Shagufta,Katie Dhingra,Agata Debowska,Derrol Kola-Palmer |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology,Criminal psychology |
Validation of the Urdu version of the
Measure of Criminal Social Identity
within a sample of Pakistani
incarcerated delinquents
Sonia Shagufta, Katie Dhingra, Agata Debowska and Derrol Kola-Palmer
Sonia Shagufta is based at the
Department of Psychology,
University of Huddersfield,
Huddersfield, UK.
Katie Dhingra is based at the
Department of Criminology,
Leeds Beckett University,
Leeds, UK.
Agata Debowska is based at
the Department of Psychology,
University of Chester,
Chester, UK.
Derrol Kola-Palmer is based at
the Department of Psychology,
University of Huddersfield,
Huddersfield, UK.
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to examine the dimensionality, composite reliability, and incremental
validity of the Measure of Criminal Social Identity (MCSI) in a sample of Pakistani incarcerated delinquents
(n ¼315) following translation of the measure into Urdu.
Design/methodology/approach –Four alternative factor models, with uncorrelated measurement error
terms, were specified and tested using confirmatory factor analysis and bifactor modelling techniques.
Findings –Results indicated that a three-factor model provided a better fit to the data than the alternative
models tested. The reliability of the scale was established using composite reliability. Furthermore, structural
equation modelling revealed that the three MCSI factors were differentially related with external variables,
indicating that the MCSI measures substantially different domains.
Research limitations/implications –Implications for theory and future research are discussed.
Originality/value –The results add valuable evidence as to the cross-cultural applicability of the MCSI.
Keywords Translation, Confirmatory factor analysis, Criminal social identity, Bifactor modelling,
Construct validity, Pakistani juvenile delinquents
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Social identity reflects a particular component of an individual’s overall self-concept that is
derived primarily from group membership, and is generally regarded as arising from a need to
belong (Baumeister and Leary, 1995; Tajfel, 1978; Tajfel and Turner, 1979). The development
and significance of social identity has received considerable attention in terms of religious,
cultural, or demographic associations (e.g. Boatswain and Lalonde, 2000; Cameron and
Lalonde, 2001; Obst et al., 2002), but has only recently been explored in terms of criminal identity
(Boduszek and Hyland, 2011; Boduszek et al., 2016a, b; Sherretts et al., 2016). The concept of
CSI has important theoretical and practical implications because, according Boduszek and
Hyland (2011), the development and activation of a criminal social identity (CSI) increases an
individual’s likelihood of engagement in criminal behaviour.
The most extensively applied measure of social identity to date was developed by Brown et al.
(1986). Researchers applying this measuretypically report that social identity is a one-dimensional
construct, with factor analytic studies demonstrating item directionality rather than construct
dimensionality (Brown et al., 1986; Kelly, 1988). However, more recent research has provided
Received 21 March 2016
Revised 21 March 2016
Accepted 31 March 2016
DOI 10.1108/JCP-03-2016-0010 VOL. 6 NO. 2 2016, pp. 89-99, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2009-3829
j
JOURNAL OF CRIMINAL PSYCHOLOGY
j
PAG E 89
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