HOW MANY FACTORS OF PARANORMAL BELIEF ARE THERE - A CRITIQUE OF THE PARANORMAL BELIEF SCALE

The purpose of this investigation was to assess critically the Paranormal Belief Scale (PBS) developed by Tobacyk and Milford (1983) and revised by Tobacyk (1988). This scale provides seven factors of paranormal belief: Traditional Religion, Psi Belief, Precognition, Spiritualism, Witchcraft, Extraordinary Life Forms, and Superstition. The revised scale consists of 26 items and has been widely used in research into the causes and consequences of belief in the paranormal. However, in its present form the PBS is based on less than strong methodology, and even though the factorial structure of paranormal belief is likely to be multidimensional, it is certainly not accounted for by a seven-factor simple structure, nor is it likely to be orthogonal. Reconstruction and reanalysis of the original 13-factor solution show that there are more likely to be four significant factors in the PBS. An in-depth review of the PBS subscales shows that subscale items lacked comprehensive coverage of their constructs and are often wrongly named It also sheds light on why the factor structure may have turned out as it did. In concluding, I argue that a new PBS and a more appropriate definition of paranormal are required. Finally, a new approach to PBS scale development is argued for, helping the researcher to sift out the varieties of believer and therefore enhancing the quality of paranormal belief research.