The "Relatedness-Exclusion" Scale: Creation and Validation

Objective. The article describes a test of the validity and reliability of the Relatedness-Exclusion scale, based on the general scale of satisfaction of basic psychological needs by E. Deci and R. Ryan.
Background. Relatedness as a basic psychological need is mentioned in a number of theories, but it is most conceptually described in the Self-determination theory by E. Deci and R. Ryan, within which it is diagnosed as one of the scales of the “General Scale of Satisfaction of Basic Psychological Needs.” However, the authors paid much more attention to the need for autonomy as a necessary condition for self-determination. This bias led to a blurring of the boundaries of the phenomenon of relatedness and relatively low indicators of the quality criteria of this scale. As a result, a series of studies led to the creation of a three-factor model of belonging that needs to be tested for validity and reliability.
Study design. The study was carried out in three stages. At the first stage, testing was carried out to assess convergent validity, consistency of the behavior of the variables with the variables of other questionnaires, reliability and internal consistency. At the second stage, factorial validity was checked. The third stage was devoted to standardization.
Participants. At the first stage of the study, 76 full-time MPSU students (17 m, 59 f) aged from 17 to 22 years (M = 20; SD = 1,03) took part. At the second stage, the sample consisted of 1905 people (501 m, 1404 f) aged from 9 to 81 years (M = 27,81; SD = 10,4). The third stage of the study was conducted on a sample of 1925 people.
Measurements. The quality criteria of the questionnaire were checked by calculating internal consistency (Cronbach's α), test-retest reliability, and correlation analysis of the questionnaire scales with each other, as well as with other questionnaires. Factorial validity was tested using confirmatory factor analysis. Calculations were carried out in IBM SPSS 23 and AMOS 23.
Results. Checking the questionnaire for validity, reliability and internal consistency showed statistically significant results in almost all cases: Cronbach's α is 0,849, which corresponds to the level of good internal consistency; the significance level of test-retest reliability and convergent validity for all three scales is p ≤ 0,01. Correlation with other questionnaires confirmed the content aspect of the three types of relatedness. As a result of confirmatory factor analysis, CFI = 0,928; RMSEA = 0,064, which is slightly beyond the recommended values.
Conclusions. As a result of verification of the created questionnaire, it was established that it passed all the necessary procedures for verification. The questionnaire is a good intermediate model of the need to belong and is a completely working tool, but needs additional refinement.

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