Attitudes toward Homelessness Inventory: A psychometric analysis

Area of Science:

• Social Psychology
• Psychometrics

Background:

• A need exists for reliable instruments to assess attitudes toward homelessness.
• The Attitudes toward Homelessness Inventory (ATHI) has shown inconsistencies in use and internal reliability.
• Previous research indicates a lack of psychometrically sound measures for attitudes toward homelessness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Attitudes toward Homelessness Inventory (ATHI).
• To determine if the ATHI's factor structure and reliability are adequate for measuring attitudes toward homelessness.

Main Methods:

• A random-digit-dial telephone survey was used to recruit 899 participants.
• Participants completed the Attitudes toward Homelessness Inventory (ATHI).
• Statistical analyses were performed to assess the psychometric properties of the ATHI.

Main Results:

• The four-factor solution aligned with the data, but factor loadings and reliability were insufficient.
• The ATHI's psychometric properties were inadequate for reliably measuring attitudes toward homelessness.
• Outdated items are hypothesized as a cause for the observed psychometric deficiencies.

Conclusions:

• The Attitudes toward Homelessness Inventory (ATHI) requires revisions or a new, conceptually and psychometrically sound measure is needed.
• Current psychometric limitations hinder the accurate assessment of attitudes toward homelessness using the ATHI.
• Further research should focus on developing or refining instruments for measuring attitudes toward homelessness.