Four Short Scales for Measuring the Personality Trait of “Justice Sensitivity”

Abstract

People differ systematically in how easily they perceive injustice and in how strongly they respond to it. The construct of justice sensitivity mirrors these stable personality differences. Empirical studies have demonstrated that justice sensitivity is correlated with variables from the field of work, health, politics, and social relations. Schmitt, Baumert, Gollwitzer, and Maes (2010) developed a first instrument measuring the four facets of justice sensitivity. Based on this instrument, Baumert, Beierlein, Schmitt, Kemper, Kovaleva, Liebig, and Rammstedt (in press) constructed four short scales with two items each which are particularly suitablefor survey research. In the present paper, we explain how the short scales were constructed. Empirical results on the validity of the scales will be reported on the basis of a quota sample and a population representative sample. The findings corroborate the satisfactory reliability and validity of the short scales. The factorial structure was appropriately replicated by the short scales. Furthermore, the short scales showed the theoretically expected relations to criterion variables such as effort-reward-imbalance, mental health, political efficacy, and delinquency.