Congruence between a theoretical continuum of masculinity and the Rasch model: examining the Conformity to Masculine...

The purpose of this study was to examine the psychometric structure of the Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory (CMNI) in relation to the Rasch model. The CMNI was specifically constructed to measure a set of unidimensional constructs. As such, the items were intended to define a uniform spread of locations along each construct. The CMNI measures conformity to twelve masculine norms: winning, emotional control, risk-taking, violence, dominance, playboy, self-reliance, primacy of work, power over women, disdain for homosexuals, physical toughness, and pursuit of status. Three hundred forty-eight men participated in the study. In addition to examining global Rasch characteristics and the unidimensionality of each of the 12 scales, a detailed Rasch rating scale analysis is provided for the Violence Scale with unusual response patterns discussed in terms of their clinical usefulness. The results across all 12 scales reveal an excellent congruence between the theoretically derived construct of conformity to masculine norms and the theoretically defined objectives of the Rasch rating scale model.