MORE ON THE STRUCTURE OF MALE-ROLE NORMS - EXPLORATORY AND MULTIPLE SAMPLE CONFIRMATORY ANALYSES

This study assessed the structure of a widely used measure of masculin ity ideology, the Male Role Norms Scale (Thompson & Pleck, 1986), usin g data from four samples of male college students (total N = 656) at t wo large, public universities (one Midwestern, one Eastern-Central). E xploratory factor analysis suggested a four-factor model best fit the data in the exploratory sample (sample 1; N = 210). The four factors w ere Status/Rationality, Antifemininity, Tough Image, and Violent Tough ness. A series of confirmatory factor analyses on a validation sample (samples 2, 3, and 4; N = 446), tested four models based on theory (i. e., Brannon, 1976) and previous research (i.e., Thompson & Pleck, 1986 ). Results from Study 1, our exploratory analysis, indicated that the four-factor model derived from the exploratory sample in Study 1 provi ded the best fit for the validation sample data of all models tested a nd also provided a good fit in absolute terms, according to several mo del-data fit indices. Implications for the assessment of masculinity i deology and suggestions for future research are discussed.