The Gendered Singlehood Perception Scale (GSPS) is a new[1], balanced, and split-ballot Likert scale designed to measure gendered attitudes about single adults. The scale captures the extent to which respondents endorse deficit-based perceptions of singlehood (e.g., “incomplete”, “missing something”) versus egalitarian views that single life can be equally fulfilling as partnered life. This enables quantitative capture of how perceptions of singlehood differ according to broader cultural and normative contexts.
The GSPS employs a seven-point Likert scale response:
1 - completely disagree
2 - mostly disagree
3 - somewhat disagree
4 - neither agree nor disagree
5 - somewhat agree
6 - mostly agree
7 - completely agree
For data collection, it is intended for use in a split-ballot design, with two parallel versions of the scale: one about single women and one about single men, both measuring the same latent concept. Respondents are to be randomly assigned so that the sample consists of 25% men and 25% women receiving the male version, and 25% men and 25% women receiving the female version, ensuring that equal proportions of male and female respondents complete both scale variants. This design allows assessment of whether gendered wording or framing of the items systematically affects response distributions, while each respondent answers only one version of the scale to prevent overburdening.
[1] Based on Pignotti, M., & Abell, N. (2009). The Negative Stereotyping of Single Persons Scale. Research on Social Work Practice, 19(5), 639-652. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049731508329402
Citation requirement
The Gendered Singlehood Perception Scale is freely available for research and educational purposes. If you use the scale in your research, please cite it as follows:
Robberecht, L., Mortelmans, D., & Thielemans, G. (2026). The Gendered Singlehood Perception Scale [Research instrument]. University of Antwerp.