Tribalism: Scale Construction and Validation

Abstract

This research paper develops and validates a new reliable and valid tribalism scale for measuring and predicting individuals tribal behavior within society usingthe segmentary lineage theory [1]. The primary measurement data were collected using pencil-and-paper questionnaires handed out to respondents in three mosques following Friday afternoon prayer in the Greater Hamilton Area (GHA), Ontario, Canada. Each of the respondents was originally from Pakistan. Using exploratory factor analysis (EFA), factor analysis (FA), and structural equation modeling technique (SEM), the newly developed tribalism scale suggested three reliable and valid dimensions for measuring tribalism at the individual leveltribal pride, tribal loyalty, and tribal group identity. The study also discussed future research and the theoretical and practical implications of the scale.