The Free Will and Determinism Plus (FAD–Plus) scale: The validity and reliability of the Polish adaptation

Blanka Kondratowicz-Nowak; Joanna Duda; Jakub Wierzbicki; Anna Maria Zawadzka

doi:10.18290/rpsych.2018.21.4-4

Blanka Kondratowicz-Nowak University of Gdańsk, Institute of Psychology
Joanna Duda University of Gdańsk, Institute of Psychology
Jakub Wierzbicki Collegium Da Vinci in Poznań
Anna Maria Zawadzka University of Gdańsk, Institute of Psychology

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18290/rpsych.2018.21.4-4

Keywords: belief in free will; determinism; unpredictability; subjective well-being; tool adaptation

Abstract

The article presents an analysis of the validity and reliability of the FAD-Plus scale by D. L. Paulhus and J. M. Carey, which is used to measure beliefs in free will, determinism, and the unpredictability of events. The results of three studies are presented. Based on the results of the first study, it was found that the tool has a consistent structure and that its 3-factor 16-item version is reliable. The second study revealed positive correlations between determinism and religious fundamentalism and belief in an unjust world as well as a positive correlation between belief in unpredictability and belief in an unjust world. The correlations of belief in free will with authoritarianism, belief in an unjust world, and religious fundamentalism were not significant. The third study revealed a positive correlation between belief in free will and positive emotions, a negative correlation between belief in determinism and positive emotions, and negative correlations of belief in determinism and belief in unpredictability with life satisfaction. The analysis of the FAD-Plus scale for the Polish sample proves that the 3-factor scale (the 16-item version) consisting of subscales measuring beliefs in free will, determinism, and unpredictability, is a parametrically satisfactory tool.

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