RESUMO
RESUMO Este artigo objetivou verificar a validade de construto da Escala de Atitudes Frente à Arma de Fogo (EAFAF). No Estudo 1, participaram 200 policiais militares do Distrito Federal, com idade média de 27,75 anos (DP=2,98), dos quais 88,8 % eram homens. Eles responderam a EAFAF e perguntas demográficas. A análise dos componentes principais indicou uma estrutura tri-fatorial, cujos alfas de Cronbach foram 0,81 (direito), 0,76 (proteção) e 0,65 (crime). No Estudo 2, participaram 220 estudantes universitários, com idade média de 24,37 anos (DP=7,58), dos quais 53,0% eram mulheres. Testou-se a estrutura tri-fatorial por meio de análise fatorial confirmatória. Os indicadores de ajuste foram satisfatórios. Os alfas de Cronbach foram 0,81, 0,76, 0,75. O estudo indicou que mulheres tendem a associar armas de fogo a crime, enquanto homens as associam a proteção e direito.
ABSTRACT This study aimed to verify the construct validity of the Attitude Towards Guns Scale (ATGS). The sample in study 1 was composed by 200 policemen, with a mean age of 27.75 years (SD=2.98), 88.8% being men. They responded to the ATGS questionnaire and to demographic questions. A principal components analysis indicated a three-factor structure, with Cronbach's alphas of .81 (justice), .76 (protection) and .65 (crimes). The sample in Study 2 was composed by 220 college students, with a mean age of 24.37 years (SD=7.58), 53% being females. The three-factor structure was tested using confirmatory factor analysis. The fit indexes were satisfactory. Cronbach's Alphas of the Study 2 were .81, .76 and .75. The study indicates that women tend to associate guns with crime while men tend to associate them with protection and justice.