Cross-cultural validation of the Social Justice scale in eight Latin-American countries

Abstract

This study has two aims. First, it tests the psychometric properties of the Social Justice Scale in eight Spanish-speaking Latin American countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Colombia, Uruguay, México, Venezuela and Honduras). Second, this study analyzes the relations and cultural differences between the dimensions of social justice with blatant and subtle prejudice towards poor people. These objectives are particularly interesting given the need for transcultural tools to evaluate social justice and the impact that it has on different variables. A sample of 4,130 adults from eight Latin-American countries who were 18 to 80 years (M = 46.89 years, SD = 15.23; 57.4% female) was selected by convenience sampling. The psychometric properties of the Social Justice Scale were adequate. Moreover, the three correlated dimensions model showed a major fit than the unidimensional model. According to the results of this study, the implementation of the scale in the Latin American context is adequate.