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Abstract
Hazing continues to persist within college sports despite associated risks and negative consequences. Although a growing amount of research exists on the prevalence, nature, and perceived rational for hazing as reported by student-athletes (Allen & Madden, 2008; Allen & Madden, 2012; Hoover, 1999), relatively less research has been conducted on coaches and their attitudes towards hazing. Given the influential nature of coaches attitudes on team climate and athletes behavior (Johnson, 2009; Kavussanu, Roberts, & Ntoumanis, 2002; Kowalski & Waldon, 2010; Ommundsen et al., 2003), the purpose of the present study focused on further evaluation of the psychometric properties of the Perceived Legitimacy of Hazing Behavior (PLHB) Scale, a quantitative measure designed to assess coaches perceptions of legitimacy towards sport-related hazing behavior. With an evolved understanding of coaches perceptions of hazing, key organizations and personnel may be better informed when developing interventions and programming. This study utilized a quantitative, non-experimental, survey-based research design with stratified cluster sampling and online data collection. Data analysis included 302 NCAA Division I, II, and III college coaches from across the United States. In addition to assessing discriminant validity by exploring the potential impact of social desirability bias as measured by the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale, Form X1, the construct validity of the PLHB Scale was examined with exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Scale reliability was evaluated with Cronbachs alpha. Following data collection and after item parceling, data transformation, and the deletion of item parcel six, an EFA utilizing principal-axis factoring identified a unidimensional factor structure that accounted for 79.86% of the variance. The model appeared to be a good fit and well defined with strong factor loadings and high communalities. In addition to good reliability (.95), the PLHB Scale demonstrated favorable discriminant validity when compared with the MCSDS-X1. While the PLHB Scale continued to demonstrate promising psychometric properties with regards to reliability and construct validity, additional research is needed to confirm the factor structure as well as to establish convergent validity. Additional research implications are discussed, strengths and limitations are reviewed, and recommendations for future research are presented.