Unmasking Modern Racism in Germany: The Psychometrics Behind the German Modern Racism Scale

Objectives: The aims of this study were to adapt the Modern Racism Scale (McConahay, 1986) to the German context and to test its psychometric soundness. The German MRS (GMRS) was developed within the German National Monitoring of Discrimination and Racism and is intended to capture racist attitudes towards ethnic and religious minorities. Methods: In two cross-sectional studies, we tested the GMRS in its factor structure and measurement invariance across non-racialized, racialized, and non-racialized individuals with a migration background, as well as gave initial evidence for convergent validity. Results: In Study 1 (N = 13.903), results from Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analyses using traditional fit indices indicated a one-factor and a two-factor solution consisting of the factors (1) denial of persistent discrimination and (2) perception of excessive demands and undeserved advantages. In Study 2 (N = 2.330), both factor solutions meet the traditional cutoffs, indicating an acceptable model fit as well. However, tailored dynamic fit indices, as a novel approach to evaluate model fit, were used to discuss potential misfits. In both studies, evidence for measurement invariance was provided on at least scalar level, and findings indicated initial evidence for convergent validity (e.g., including the propensity to make attributions to prejudice). Conclusions: The GMRS serves as a psychometrically sound instrument to measure modern racist attitudes towards ethnic and religious minorities in Germany. Limitations and practical recommendations of the scale are discussed.