Investigation of factor structure, validity and reliability of the Criminogenic Cognitions Scale (CCS) in Students of Birjand University of Medical Sciences

Behavior misconduct in college students are an important issue. This study aimed to investigate the factor structure, reliability, and validity of the Criminogenic Cognitions scale. This study is a survey of correlation type with exploratory factor analysis, 397 students of Birjand University of Medical Sciences Selected and studied by using cluster sampling method and completed the Criminogenic Cognitions scale, Dark Personality Scale, honesty and empathy subscales and Anger subscale. Data was analyzed using Lisrel (version 8/8) and SPSS softwares (version 22). The reliability coefficient of the questionnaire was calculated through the method of retesting and Cronbach's alpha test and the validity of the questionnaire was determined through exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. The result of exploratory factor analysis extracted a 5-factor structure that explained 50.04 percent of the variance of the test. The five factors were named short-term gratification, negative attitude toward authority, failure to accept responsibility, Notions associated with entitlement and Insensitivity to the Impact of Crime, respectively. Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficients for the five factors and the total questionnaire were in the range of 0.65 to 0.89.In addition, correlations between total score of Criminogenic Cognitions scale and scores of psychopathy, Machiavellianism and anger were positive and significant, and correlations between total score of Criminogenic Cognitions scale and scores of honesty and empathy were negative and significant. Fitness indices including Goodness of Fit Index (GFI), Comparative Fit Index (CFI), Incremental Fit Index (IFI) and Root Mean Square Error (RMSEA) equal to 0.88, 0.90, 0.90 and 0.073 and showed that the model is fitted with data. The findings of the study confirmed the obtained five-factor structure of the main questionnaire and provided practical advices for researchers, professionals and organizations responsible for using the scale.