The Development And Validation Of A Measure Of Charmophobia

ABSTRACT

Anecdotal evidences have suggested that Africans generally belief and fear voodoo or charm.

However, there is no existing scale !o measure the fear of charm. Accordingly, the aim of this

study was to develop and validate a measure of fear of charm (Charmophobia). Twenty three (23

items) were generated based on evidences obtained in a Focus Group Discussion (FGD)

consisting of 12 participants and reduced to 21 items in the content validity process. To obtaining

the factor structure, reliability and validity of the Channophobia measure, 450 participants were

recruited using the convenient sampling method from the population of Federal University Oyc

Ekiti, students and staffs, and administered the Channophobia measure, the Revised Paranonnal

Belief Scale (Tobacyk, 1988) and Duke Social Support and Stress Scale (Parkerson et. al., 1991)

Data were analyzed using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EPA), Confirmatory Factor Analysis

(CPA) and Pearson Correlation. A four factor structure of the Charmophobia Scale was derived.

The Cham10phobia Scale (full items) yielded convergent validity coefficient of .31, discriminant

validity coefficient of -.07 and a reliability coefficient of .86. It was recommended that the four factor Cham10phobia Scale be used as a valid measure of fear of charm or voodoo.