Dogmatism Scale Test

Building upon the foundational work of Milton Rokeach, who previously introduced the concept of dogmatism through his D Scale, the Dogmatism Scale (DOG Scale) is a theoretical framework developed by Bob Altemeyer to measure the rigid and unyielding nature of beliefs held by individuals, especially in the context of religious beliefs. This scale aims to assess how unchangeable and unjustified certainty affects one's worldview. Rokeach's work served as an initial attempt to quantify this concept; however, it faced criticism and limitations, prompting further research and the development of the DOG Scale.

The Dogmatism Scale comprises 20 items, divided into two categories: "protrait" and "contrait." Protrait items signify belief in absolute truths. On the contrary, contrait items express the virtue of flexibility in thinking, encouraging respondents to consider that they may be wrong. This dichotomy allows the measurement of dogmatism across various belief systems, although initial findings suggest it manifests most prominently in religious contexts.

Four specific areas of inquiry were examined in the studies: the correlation of dogmatism with religious fundamentalism, the impact of evidence on rigid beliefs, the relationship between dogmatism and authoritarianism, and the predictive power of the Dogmatism Scale in determining reactions to biblical contradictions.

The research revealed that individuals who hold "true believer" viewpoints—that is, those who assert the literal infallibility of the Bible—scored higher on the Dogmatism Scale than those who acknowledged inconsistencies. When presented with differing Gospel accounts of significant events such as the resurrection of Jesus, the most dogmatic individuals maintained that no contradictions existed, exhibiting a form of dogmatic denial.

Key findings indicated that those with higher dogmatism scores tend to cling to rigid beliefs even when confronted with contradictory evidence. This phenomenon suggests a psychological defense mechanism wherein admitting any inconsistency might threaten their entire belief system, highlighting the emotional investment in maintaining a singular, unchallenged worldview.

The scale's validity was further reinforced by comparing its results with other established measures, such as the Right-Wing Authoritarianism Scale and the Religious Fundamentalism Scale. The DOG Scale demonstrated stronger correlations with beliefs that resist disconfirmation, indicating reliable applicability in various contexts beyond religion.

The findings of this research underscore the importance of addressing dogmatism, particularly in educational and counseling settings, as it reveals one's capacity for cognitive flexibility and openness to new information. Further exploration of the Dogmatism Scale may yield important insights into the dynamics of belief systems and their implications for interpersonal and societal interactions.