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A scale to measure superstition.
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| Abstract: |
The purpose of the study was to construct a scale to measure
superstition in a rural setting. A total of 31 statements or items
expressing superstition were collected through reviewing relevant
literature, consultation with extension experts, social scientists,
progressive farmers and local leaders Statements were carefully examined
and edited as per the criteria of Edwards (1). The statements were
employed to the rating by a battery of judges selected from Tilli union
under Saturia upazila of Manikganj. Scale values (S) and inter-quartile
range value (Q) were computed for these statements. Twenty two
statements were selected for preparation of draft scale considering
their scale and interquartile range value. The draft scale was
administered on 100 randomly selected maize farmers of four villages of
Tilli union under Saturia upazila. Critical ratio (t) was calculated for
each of the statements. Finally, 20 statements having t[grater than or
equal to]1.75 were retained in the scale. Both reliability and validity
of the scale were ascertained. Kew words: Superstition, scale, farmers |
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| Subject: |
Superstition
(Social aspects) Superstition (Evaluation) |
| Authors: |
Huque, Mahfuzul Chowdhury, Ataharul Huq |
| Pub Date: | 01/01/2007 |
| Publication: | Name: Journal of Social Sciences Publisher: Science Publications Audience: Professional Format: Magazine/Journal Subject: Social sciences Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2007 Science Publications ISSN: 1549-3652 |
| Issue: | Date: Jan, 2007 Source Volume: 3 Source Issue: 1 |
| Topic: | Event Code: 290 Public affairs |
| Geographic: | Geographic Scope: Bangladesh Geographic Name: Bangladesh Geographic Code: 9BANG Bangladesh |
| Accession Number: | 168740448 |
| Full Text: |
INTRODUCTION Research system has continually been releasing innovations in all fields of social development-agriculture, food and nutrition, health and sanitation, family planning and environment. Unfortunately societies, especially of the Third World countries, lag much behind in using these research based technologies than the rate these are generated although social scientists have come up with many RD& D models- a compilation of these appear in the arduous work of Havlock (2). One significant reason for low rate of innovation diffusion in such societies can be traced in the characteristics of their social systems. In the other scenario, diffusion researches of more than half a century have conclusively shown that demographic, situational, socioeconomic and psychological factors affect variously the rate of innovation diffusion although the same levels of interventions through the "directed change" approach could be followed. Understanding the complex phenomenon of social change in reference to other socio-demographic factors is relatively easier, but it is harder when the variables relate to some aspects of psychology. It is so because the effect of such variables in clients' behaviour is harder especially in the operationalization of these with acceptable level of validity. One such psychological variable is "superstition" which the Oxford Dictionary defines as "the belief that particular events happen in a way that can not be explained by reason of science, the belief that particular event brings good or bad luck". Bhusan (3) defined superstition as "a belief about natural phenomena that depends upon a magical or occult interpretation of events and that is widely held to be true in spite of objectively demonstrable facts to the contrary". Both conservatism and superstition arise from the belief system, both are held on a historical perspective, both are handed down from one generation to the next and resist social change process. Superstition is a type of belief which can be regarded as the precursor of one's attitude development including behaviour. In Bangladesh, it is probably Sana (4) who introduced first this variable to ascertain its relationship with his subject knowledge in shrimp farmers in a Southern Bangladesh rural community. He selected 60 statements on a broad national context. In consultation with local leaders and extension personnel of the community concerned, he came up with a 25-item scale, each items was subjected to a three-point rating scale. However, assessing reliability and validity tests remained beyond the scope of scale construction. Following him shortly, Biswas (5) developed a scale on superstition to assess the standing of his subject, accessibility of rural women in family decision-making. This also lacked the ended sophistication in terms of reliability and validity. Thus, developing a valid scale to measure superstition of the people in the rural community of Bangladesh was considered an important and pioneering research accomplishment. MATERIALS AND METHODS RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Item collection for the scale was crucial in the sense that the statements needed to be so constructed that each of these could reflect one's position in the variable concerned. However, items were collected from available literature, especially of Sana's (4) who used the scale in his thesis work. Besides, informal interview with the selected local people, extension experts and professional colleagues were the sources for statement selection. From all the sources a bettery of over 60 items was prepared. The statements were examined and edited as per criteria suggested by Edwards (1). After rigorous culling, only 31 of the 60 items were retained. After selection of statements following successive steps were followed to construct the final scale. Ratings of the judges on the statements: Twenty judges were selected from the locale of the study which was Tilli union under Saturia upazial of Manikganj district. They comprised of three upazila level extension officers, two concerned extension agents, five school teachers, seven local leaders having agricultural background and three religious leaders. They were asked to place each of the statements on a five point continuum ranging from "Most appropriate", "Appropriate ", "Undecided", "Less Appropriate" and "Least Appropriate". Since the median of the distribution of judgements for each statement was taken as the scale value of the statement, the scale value was calculated from the data following Edwards (6) formula which follows below: Where, S = the median or scale value of the statement l = the lower limit of the interval in which the median falls [SIGMA]pb = the sum of the proportions below the interval in which the median falls pw = the proportions within the interval in which the median falls i = the width of the interval and is assumed to be equal to 1.0 The inter quartile range (Q) was computed as an index of dispersion of the statements on the scale (6). It contained the middle 50 percent of the judgements. To determine the value of Q, it was necessary to find two other point measures, the 75th centile ([C.sub.75]) and 25th centile ([C.sub.25]). These were calculated using the following two formulae: Where, l = the lower limit of the interval in which the centile concerned falls [SIGMA]pb = the sum of the proportion below the interval in which the centile concerned falls. pw = the proportion within the interval in which the centile concerned falls. i = the width of the interval and it assumed to be equal to 1.00 The scale value and the Q value for all the statements have appeared in Table 1. According to Thurstone and Chave (7), the 22 statements having smaller Q value and higher scale value were retained in the scale. The scale values of the statements ranged from 4.5 to 2.08 and Q values ranged from 0.58 to 1.05. Preparation and administration of the draft scale: The statements retained were placed in a random sequence against four ratings expressing- "High", "medium", "Low" and "Not at all". This was pre-tested on 15 farmers of the area under investigation. Based on the pretest experience expressions of the items were modified. The draft scale was administered on the selected 100 farmers. Each respondent was asked to indicate whether or not he believed in the message contained in each of the statements and if so to what extent. He was asked to specify his belief level in any of the expressions- "high", "medium", "low" and "not at all" and score assigned were 3, 2, 1 and 0 respectively. The superstition score of a respondent was obtained by summing the scores against all the statements. Thus, the score of an individual subject could theoretically vary from 0 to 63 in reference to the present scoring system where "63" would indicate high degree of superstition and "0" indicate no superstition. Final selection of items: In the statements of draft scale, item analysis was done as suggested by Edwards (1) taking the data of the 100 farmers. The critical ratio or 't' values were considered for final selection of the item. Critical ratio is a measure of the extent to which a given statement differentiates between the high and low groups of respondents (1). The low group and high group comprised of twenty percent of the respondents with the lowest and highest total scores of the respondents against the variable under analysis. The distribution of the total scores in the sample is shown in the Table 2. As sample size on the present study being 100, frequency in high group (XH) and low group (XL) were equal i.e. 25 and therefore, the critical ratio was calculated by the following formula. Where and [SIGMA] [X.sub.H.sup.2] = Sum of the squares of the individual scores in the low group [SIGMA] [X.sub.L.sup.2] = Sum of the squares of the individual scores in the low group [[bar.X] sub.H] = The mean score on a given statement for the high group [[bar.X].sub.L] = The mean score on a given statement foe the low group n=Number of respondent in each group The statements which had t values equal or greater than 1.75 were retained in the final scale (1). Out of 22 only two statements (item 7 and 14 in Table 1) in the draft scale were rejected. Thus, the remaining 20 statements were arranged in descending on the basis of their 't' values, which is shown in Table 3. Reliability of the scale: A scale is reliable when it consistently produces the same results on application to the same sample. In the present study the reliability was measured using the following two common methods: Split-half reliability: In this method the 20 items of the superstition scale was divided into equal halves of 10 odd-numbered item in one half and 10 even numbered items in another. These two sets of statements were administrated to 10 farmers. The Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (r) between two sets was found to be 0.847, which was significant 0.01 level of probability. This indicates the internal consistency of the scale. Scoring scale on an odd-even basis means cutting its length in half. Thus, the reliability the original scale. The correction was made by Spearman -Brown formula (8) which follows: Spearman - Brown formula Where rtt= Coefficient of reliability of the original test [r.sub.oe] = the reliability coefficient obtained by correlating the scores on the odd items with the scores of the even items By substitution, corrected reliability coefficient was found as 0.91 Test-retest method: The scale was administered to 10 randomly selected farmers of the total sample of 100 farmers at an interval of 30 days and co-efficient of correlation between the two sets of superstition score was found to be r= +0.97. This was significant at 0.01 level of probability. Therefore, the scale was highly stable and dependable to measure superstition. Validity of the scale: Validity of a scale is the property that ensures the obtained test scores measure the variable they are supposed to measure. However, content and concurrent validity of the scale were worked out. Content validity: A scale has content validity when it adequately covers both the content and the objectives of learning. The items of the scale were collected by discussing with the farmers, extension specialists, learned professionals and relevant literature. Items were also selected on the values of judgement in respect of degree of suitability of the statements made by a team of 20 judges from the locale of the study. Finally, the items were selected on the basis of their critical ratio (t). This indicated that the items had high discriminatory power. It was, therefore, assumed that the scale had content validity. Concurrent validity: This validity could be measured by finding out how the scores correspond to some outside criterion of the psychological object being measured. In the present study, known group method was applied. The concerned Block Supervisors was asked to name 10 farmers with low superstition and 10 with high superstition. The final selection of each of the group was made on the basis of the experience of data collection. As the enumerator was highly educated (MS in Extension Education) and hailed from the same locality, it could be assumed that labeling the groups as low and high was more or less valid. The final scale was administered to the selected 20 respondents. Student 't' test was applied to demonstrate the discriminatory power of the scale. The 't' value was found to be 16.99, which was significant at 0.01 level of probability. This shows that the scale is fairly valid because it has the ability to discriminate between the two groups and consequently between the subjects. CONCLUSION The scale constructed bears discriminatory power and it is reliable and dependable. The theoretical score of the scale could range from 0 to 60. This scale so constructed has implication on Bangladeshi rural communities in general. However, it may not suit in the aboriginal communities of the country where the social systems are much different. Besides Bangladesh, the scale may have bearing with the Bengali speaking communities of West Bengal, Asam and Orissa. Also, the scale might be used in other developing countries whose social system and the level of development stage are satisfactorily comparable. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Authors are grateful to Mr. Mahadeb Chandra Sana and Mr. Mohammed Shafiqul Islam Khan in conceptualizing the research problem and field works done, respectively. RFERENCES (1.) Edwards, A.L., 1957. Techniques of Attitude Scale Construction. New York: Appleton- Century Crafts, Inc. (2.) Havlock, R.G., 1975. Planning for Innovation. (5th printing). Institute of Social Research, the University of Michigan. (3.) Bhusan, B., 1989. Dictionary of Sociology (1st Ed). New Delhi; Anmol Publication. (4.) Sana, M.C., 2003. Farmers' Knowledge of Shrimp Cultivation in Assasuni Upazila Under SatKhira District. MS (Ag. Ext. Ed.) Thesis. Department of Agricultural Extension Education, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh. (5.) Biswas, S.C., 2003. Accessibility of Rural Women to Family Decision Making Process. MS (Ag. Ext. Ed.) Thesis. Department of Agricultural Extension Education, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh. (6.) Edwards, A.L., 1969. Techniques of Attitude Scale Construction. Bombay. Vakils, Feffer and Simons Private Ltd. (7.) Thurstone, L.L. and E.J. Chave, 1929. The Measurement of Attitude. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. (8.) Downe, N.M. and R.W. Heath, 1984. Basic Statistical Methods. New York: Harper and Roe Publishers. (1) Md. Mahfuzul Huque and (2) Ataharul Huq Chowdhury (1) Department of Agricultural Extension Education, Bangladesh Agricultural University (2) Wageningen University, The Netherlands Corresponding Author: Ataharul Huq Chowdhury, MSc Student, Wageningen University, Hoevestein 239,4C5, 6708AK, Wageningen and Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural Extension education, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh Table 1:
Items of superstition scale with their scale, Q values and critical ratio (t)
Sr.No. Statements Scale value Q value Critical ratio
1. Women must wear 3.91* 0.83 1.0X
an ornament at
nose and remove
it after husband's
death
2. Birth of 3.08* 0.92 2.10a
handicapped
children is the
consequence of
parent's sin
3. It is a symbol of 4.0* 0.83 2.44a
good luck for the
father, if the
first issue is a
daughter
4. If anyone praises 3.87* 0.62 9.43a
a healthy and
good-looking child,
he/she gets sick for
aving an evil eye.
5. Jaundice patients 3.88* 0.76 5.44a
should avoid taking
all kinds of protein
including fish
6. It is an ominous 3.96* 0.66 6.36a
start if any one
stumbles at the
door or gets head
struck with the roof
while getting out
of the home.
7. It is a sign of bad 3.35* 1.02 1.80a
luck if someone takes
food in a broken or
fissured plate
8. It is ominous to see 4.03* 0.66 11.81a
an empty pitcher or a
black cat on way out
of home
9. Devils read out a 2.83 1.211/4 -
religious book when
it is kept open
10. One should not open 4.5* 1.05 2.31a
the doors at night
on hearing a single
call from someone
outside the home
11. If a dog whines 3.66 2.751/4 -
piteously at night,
danger is ahead
12. One should not give 4.78* 0.80 3.83a
or take anything
from the shop on
credit in early
morning or at dusk
13. During the last 3.1* 0.76 10.05a
night of the
fortnight and
full moon, the
evil make free
movements
14. Having faced sudden 3.25* 1.07 1.52X
obstacle in the
pharynx while taking
food, it symbolizes
that someone is
remembering you
15. If a lizard makes 3.03* 0.66 6.47a
ticking sound in
the midst of a
conversation, it
bears truthfulness
16. In an attempt if 3.97* 0.58 3.88a
you fail to kill a
snake at daytime,
it will come to
bite you at night
17. Entrance of 4.03* 0.66 3.98a
butterfly in the
room is a good sign
18. Taking good food 2.19 1.941/4 -
and having pastime
on the first day
of a new year
(e.g. 1st Baishak of
the Bengali Year)
will make your days
good throughout the
year
19. If a baby 1.40 1.341/4 -
continuously becomes
thinner by being sick,
he/she has gone under
an evil eye
20. Breaking mirror 3.90* 0.66 6.73a
bears a bad sign
21. If you want to buy 2.08* 0.58 4.16a
lime and turmeric,
you should ask for
curds and hue,
respectively after
the dusk
22. It is an auspicious 3.07* 0.71 4.88a
sign to see a pitcher
filled with water on
way out of home
23. Tamarind trees are 1.16 0.661/4 -
the abodes of devils
24. Frisking of left 3.90* 0.66 8.20a
eye is a sign of
getting sick soon
25. If a pregnant women 4.87* 0.62 2.09a
cut anything during
the lunar eclipse or
solar eclipse, she
will deliver a
deformed child
26. One's death is 1.125 0.621/4 -
inevitable if a
cow sneezes while
he sets out from
residence
27. It is ominous to 2.97* 0.58 6.97a
see a broom on way
out of home
28. If someone takes 1.12 0.621/4 -
eggs on the
examination day,
he will have a poor
performance
29. If a women takes 1.05 0.551/4 -
joint banana, she
will give birth of
twins
30. Presence of 1.26 1.111/4 -
infertile women in
the wedding ceremony
is inauspicious
31. If the fetus moves 2.16* 0.66 4.68a
in mother's womb, it
will be a boy, else
it will be a girl
* Item selected based on judge rating; 1/4 Item rejected based on the judge rating; 1/4 Item rejected based on the critical ratio; aItem retained in
the final scaleTable 2: Distribution of total superstition scores Sl. No. Range of scores Frequency 1 0-7 2 2 8-14 2 3 15-21 14 4 22-28 10 5 29-35 12 6 36-42 16 7 43-49 6 8 50-56 30 9 57-66 8 Total 100 Table 3:
Final superstition scale
Sl. no. Statements t-value Extent of belief
(Critical High Medium Low Not at all
ratio)
1. It is ominous to 11.81
see an empty
pitcher or a
black cat on way
or out of home
2. During the last 10.05
night of the
fortnight and
full moon, the
evil make
free movements
3. If anyone praises 9.43
a healthy and
good-looking
child, he/she gets
sick for having
evil eye.
4. Frisking of left 8.20
eye is a sign of
getting sick soon
5. It is ominous to 6.97
see broom on way
out of home
6. Breaking a mirror 6.73
bears a bad sign
7. If a lizard makes 6.47
ticking sound in
the midst of a
conversation, it
bears truthfulness
8. It is an ominous 6.36
start if any one
stumbles at the
door or gets head
struck with the
roof while getting
out of the home
9. Jaundice patients 5.44
should avoid taking
al kinds of protein
including fish
10. It is an auspicious 4.88
sign to see a
pitcher filled with
water on way out
of home
11. If the fetus moves 4.68
in mother's womb,
it will be a boy
else it will be
a girl
12. If you want to 4.16
buy lime and
turmeric, you
should ask for
curds and hue,
respectively
after the dusk
13. Entrance of 3.98
butterfly in the
room is a good
sign
14. In an attempt if 3.88
you fail to kill
a snake at daytime,
it will come to
bite you at night
15. One should not give 3.83
or take anything
from the shop on
credit in early
morning or at dusk
16. It is a symbol of 2.44
good luck for the
father, if the first
issue is a daughter
17. One should not open 2.31
the doors at night
on hearing a single
call from someone
outside the home
18. Birth of handicapped 2.10
children is the
consequence of
parent's sin
19. If a pregnant women 2.09
cut anything during
the lunar eclipse or
solar eclipse, she
will deliver a
deformed child
20. It is a sign of bad 1.80
luck if someone
takes food in a
broken or fissured
plate |
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