This semantic differential measures whether a person believes a particular agent, whether a person or an object such as an algorithm, performs a task for internal reasons or because of external pressures. Longoni, Cian, and Kyung (2023) used it in Study 2 with 502 MTurk respondents who read a news article about either an algorithm or a person that had carried out a task. The authors built the scale from concepts and keywords in Ryan and Connell's (1989) work on perceived locus of causality.
7-point semantic differential
Full scale items shown. Always cite the original source when using this scale in research.
Alpha was .92 (Longoni, Cian, and Kyung 2023, p. 176); validity was not reported. Items follow the stem "In your opinion, the _____ performs this task because of:" with the blank filled by the focal agent (in the original study, either person or algorithm).
Longoni, Chiara, Luca Cian, and Ellie J. Kyung (2023), "Algorithmic Transference: People Overgeneralize Failures of AI in the Government," Journal of Marketing Research, 60 (1), 170-188.
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