Ricerc@Sapienza

Stem Cells (SCs) are among the most promising research venues in medicine. They are also studied in social sciences, but literature is fragmented and lacks standard tools. This project aims at carrying out a first validation of some SC-relevant social-psychological constructs' scales. Nine scales are targeted for measuring the following variables, considered as relevant on the basis of existing literature on the specific topic or related subjects: subjective knowledge on SC donation; objective knowledge on SC donation; attitudes toward SC donation; past tissue donation behaviours; positive incentives toward SC donation; negative incentives toward SC donation; intention of SC donation; importance of SC sustainability; satisfaction with SC information. Data will be gathered using a self-report questionnaire articulated into different scales (sections) and administrated to a preiminary sample of a few hundreds Italian valid subjects. Factorial structures will be explored via factorial analyses with Principal Axis Factoring (PAF), Oblimin rotation and Cronbach's alpha tests. Expected results refer to final scales possessing a satisfactory factorial structure (limited number of factors, satisfying and univocal item-factor correlations) and internal consistency (alpha > .70), such that they could therefore already be used for further research within an immediate future.