Paranormal Belief Scale
Jonathan Jong
Springer eBooks 2026 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-48344-8_160 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Measures | Paranormal Belief Scale (R-PBS) |
| Key points | Describes the Revised Paranormal Belief Scale, which measures belief in seven paranormal or supernatural phenomena and revises the 1983 Paranormal Belief Scale to improve reliability, validity, and cross-cultural applicability. Notes controversy over the measure's dimensionality but cites recent evidence that it may be used as a unidimensional measure. |
Abstract
Abstract The Paranormal Belief Scale (R-PBS) intends to measure the degree of an individual’s belief in seven kinds of paranormal or supernatural phenomena: the traditionally religious, psi, witchcraft, superstition, spiritualism, extraordinary life forms, and precognition. Paranormal phenomena is, in turn, defined as those, which “if genuine, would violate basic limiting principles of science” (Tobacyk, 2004, p. 94). This measure is a revision of Tobacyk and Milford’s (1983) Paranormal Belief Scale (originally called the Paranormal Scale), intended to improve reliability and validity, and cross-cultural applicability. There is some controversy over the dimensionality of the measure, but there is some recent evidence that it may be used as a unidimensional measure.