Multiple factors in the assessment of firesetters' fire interest and attitudes

Purpose The number of measures available to practitioners to assess fire interest and other fire-related attitudes is limited. To help establish the utility of such measures, this study explored whether three fire measures contained multiple factors and whether such factors related to firesetting be...

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Authors: Ó Ciardha, Caoilte (Author) ; Barnoux, Magali F. L. (Author) ; Alleyne, Emma K. A. (Author) ; Tyler, Nichola 1987- (Author) ; Mozova, Katarina (Author) ; Gannon, Theresa A. (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 2015
In: Legal and criminological psychology
Year: 2015, Volume: 20, Issue: 1, Pages: 37-47
Online Access: Presumably Free Access
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Keywords:
Arson
Factor Analysis
Firesetting
Description
Summary:Purpose The number of measures available to practitioners to assess fire interest and other fire-related attitudes is limited. To help establish the utility of such measures, this study explored whether three fire measures contained multiple factors and whether such factors related to firesetting behaviour. Method The Fire Interest Rating Scale, the Fire Attitude Scale, and the Identification with Fire Questionnaire were administered to 234 male prisoners (117 firesetters, 117 non-firesetters) and results were factor analyzed. To determine the relationship of the resulting factors with firesetting behaviour, their ability to discriminate firesetters from controls was examined and compared to the original scales. Results Responses were best represented by five factors, four of which discriminated firesetters from non-firesetters. One factor demonstrated significant accuracy in discriminating single offence firesetters from repeat firesetters. Taken together the factors offered more clarity than using the original scale outcomes and showed equivalent predictive accuracy. Conclusions The five factors identified may aid practitioners in helping to formulate the specific treatment needs of identified firesetters.
ISSN:2044-8333
DOI:10.1111/lcrp.12065