Échelle de croyances non admises scientifiquement : validation française du Survey of Scientifically Unaccepted Beliefs

The lack of consensus on their definition is an issue to measure paranormal beliefs, particularly in French where few scales are validated. This research focused on the validation of the French version of the Survey of Scientifically Unaccepted Beliefs (SSUB; Irwin & Marks, 2013) using Modern Test Theories. We examined its predictive validity through its relationships with the need for cognition, the need for evaluation and the need for closure. Two complementary studies (N₁= 361, N₂= 248) confirmed the present of the two sub-scales (New-Age Beliefs and Traditional Religious Beliefs) which present satisfactory psychometric characteristics. We showed that a high need for cognition is associated with a low level of paranormal beliefs. Neither of the other two needs predicted paranormal beliefs. In conclusion, the French version of the SSUB is as a relevant tool to explore individual differences in paranormal beliefs.