Bogardus Social Distance Scale

Abstract The Bogardus Social Distance Scale was an early technique for measuring attitudes toward racial and ethnic groups. The basic concept behind the Bogardus scale is that the more prejudiced an individual is against a particular group, the less that person will wish to interact with members of that group (R. M. Dawes, 1972). Thus, the items that compose a Bogardus scale describe relationships into which a respondent might be willing to enter with a member of the specified cultural group (e.g., spouse, friend, neighbor, co‐worker, citizen, visitor to our country). Items are worded in terms of inclusion or exclusion. “Would you accept an ‘X' as a spouse?” is an example of an inclusion question and “Would you keep all ‘Ys' out of America?” is an example of an exclusion question. The attitude or esteem with which the respondent holds the specified group is defined as the closeness of relationship that the respondent reports as being willing to accept with a member of that group.