Development and validation of a picture-based measure of prosociality

Current measures of prosociality primarily utilize text-based scales that can be susceptible to response bias. To enhance the ecological validity of such measures and provide a more intuitive assessment of prosociality, we developed and validated a picture-based measure of prosociality (PB-Prosocial). Based on a comprehensive model of prosociality, this measure encompasses helping, sharing, and comforting. Each item features a photograph of an individual in need of help in a naturalistic setting, followed by a question asking about the likelihood of providing help. Content validity was established via a Delphi procedure (Study 1). Twenty-six experts from 10 countries reached consensus after two rounds of survey. The factor structure was validated via exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (Study 2). This measure demonstrated excellent reliability, with McDonald's Omega values of 0.92 for helping, 0.95 for sharing, and 0.92 for comforting. The test-retest reliability was robust, with coefficients of 0.77 for helping, 0.88 for sharing, and 0.74 for comforting. It also exhibited good convergent validity with altruism, empathic concern, perspective taking, and uncaring traits, as well as good discriminant validity with fantasy and expressive suppression. The PB-Prosocial can be used in diverse settings following appropriate further validations to deepen the understanding of prosociality.