Abstract
Need for closure (NFC) is the need people have for any type of answers on a given topic, compared to confusion and ambiguity. Despite being relevant to the study of concepts such as authoritarianism, prejudice, and hostile behaviors, its use has not been identified in the Brazilian context, and adaptation studies have not yet been carried out in the country. Therefore, this study sought to adapt and evaluate the psychometric properties of the brief NFC scale for Brazil, as well as to explore its relationship with the Moral Foundations Theory and Prosociality. The sample consisted of 427 people, aged 18 to 66 years (M = 26.6). Through Confirmatory Factor Analysis, a one-dimensional model was confirmed with adequate levels of adjustment and a good index of internal consistency (α = 0.81). The measure also presented convergent and divergent validity, in addition to the Binding Moral Foundations having emerged as significant correlates, but not the prosociality measures. Finally, it was concluded that the scale presented acceptable preliminary evidence regarding the psychometric parameters and can begin to be used to assess NFC in the Brazilian context.
Resumo
Need for closure (NFC) é a necessidade que as pessoas têm por qualquer tipo de resposta sobre um determinado tópico, em comparação com a confusão e a ambiguidade. Apesar de ser relevante para o estudo de conceitos como autoritarismo, preconceito, e comportamentos hostis, não foi identificado seu uso no contexto brasileiro, além de ainda não terem sido realizados estudos de adaptação no país. Por isso, o presente estudo buscou adaptar e avaliar as propriedades psicométricas da escala breve de NFC para o Brasil, bem como explorar sua relação com a Teoria dos Fundamentos Morais e Prosocialidade. A amostra foi composta de 427 pessoas, de 18 a 66 anos (M = 26.6). Através da Análise Fatorial Confirmatória, foi confirmado um modelo unidimensional com níveis adequados de ajuste e um bom índice de consistência interna (α = .81). A medida também apresentou validade convergente e divergente, além dos Fundamentos Morais Coesivos terem surgido como correlatos significativos, mas as medidas de prosocialidade não. Por fim, concluiu-se que a escala apresentou evidências preliminares aceitáveis quanto aos parâmetros psicométricos, e pode começar a ser utilizada para avaliar NFC no contexto brasileiro.
Resumen
Need for closure (NFC) es la necesidad que las personas tienen de cualquier tipo de respuesta sobre un tema determinado, en comparación con la confusión y la ambiguedad. Si bien es relevante para el estudio de conceptos como el autoritarismo, prejuicio, y comportamientos hostiles, no ha sido identificado su uso en el contexto brasileño, además de no haber todavía ningún estudio de adaptación llevado a cabo en el país. Por esta razón, el presente estudio buscó adaptar y evaluar las propiedades psicométricas de escala breve de NFC para Brasil, así como explorar su relación con la Teoría de los Fundamentos Morales y la Prosocialidad. La muestra consistió en 427 personas, de 18 a 66 años (M = 26.6). A través del Análisis Factorial Confirmatorio, se confirmó un modelo unidimensional con niveles adecuados de ajuste y un buen índice de consistencia interna (α = .81). El instrumento también presentó validez convergente y divergente, además de que los Fundamentos Morales Cohesivos surgieron como correlactos significantes, pero las medidas de prosocialidad no. Finalmente, se concluyó que la escala presentaba evidencias preliminares aceptables con respecto a los parámetros psicométricos, y se puede comenzar a usar para evaluar la NFC en el contexto brasileño.
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Data Availability
The data that support the findings of this study are available to all researchers from the corresponding author upon request.
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Financial support provided by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) through a master’s scholarship for the first author and a research productivity grant for the second author.
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Caro Simões dos Reis, M.I., Pilati, R. Need for Closure: Measure Adaptation to Brazil and Relation with Moral Foundations and Prosociality. Trends in Psychol. 29, 86–103 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43076-020-00047-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43076-020-00047-x