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Horizontal and Vertical Individualism and Collectivism Scale
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About Horizontal and Vertical Individualism and Collectivism Scale
Scale Name
Horizontal and Vertical Individualism and Collectivism Scale
Author Details
Theodore M. Singelis and fellows
Translation Availability
Not Sure
Background/Description
The Horizontal and Vertical Individualism and Collectivism Scale is a tool developed to assess cultural orientations related to individualism and collectivism across two dimensions: horizontal and vertical. Horizontal individualism emphasizes equality and autonomy, while vertical individualism values competition and hierarchy. On the other hand, horizontal collectivism emphasizes interdependence and equality, while vertical collectivism stresses interdependence and hierarchy.
This scale is particularly useful in cross-cultural research as it provides a nuanced understanding of how people perceive their relationships with others and authority figures. It was developed to refine the classical measurement of individualism and collectivism, distinguishing between egalitarian and hierarchical versions of each.
Horizontal and vertical individualism and collectivism scale 14-items (HVICS 14-items; Sivadas, Bruvold, & Nelson, 2008). It is a 14 item self-report measure of cultural orientation. Items are scored on a 5 point Likert scale ranging from 1 = never to 5 = always. This measure conceptualises the two known dimensions of cultural orientation having horizontal and vertical dimensions. These dimensions depict the hierarchy or equality within individualistic and collectivistic cultures.
Those who have horizontal collectivistic orientation value interdependence and equality, whereas those with vertical collectivistic orientation value interdependence but believe in competing with out-groups. Those who have horizontal individualistic orientation value independence and equality, whereas those with vertical individualistic orientation value independence and believe in hierarchy and status within society. Therefore, the scale has four sub-scales: horizontal collectivism, vertical collectivism, horizontal individualism and vertical individualism. The scale does not give a total score. The score on each sub-scale can be calculated by taking the mean of the items corresponding to that sub-scale.
The original Horizontal and Vertical Individualism Collectivism Scale I was designed by Singelis, Triandis, Bhawuk, and Gelfand (1995) and it was composed of 32 items. Triandis and Gelfand (1998) then revised the original version and reduced it to 27 items to improve the scale’s robustness. However, the fit of the model was still found problematic. Therefore, to improve the psychometric stability and content validity of the scale Sivadas et al. (2008) revised the scale into a more parsimonious and psychometrically stable reduced 14-item version and validated it on six samples from four countries which were translated in the present study for the purpose of use with Pakistani sample.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Format: The Horizontal and Vertical Individualism and Collectivism Scale consists of self-report items that respondents rate on a Likert scale. The items are designed to capture attitudes and behaviors reflecting individualism or collectivism, along with their horizontal (egalitarian) or vertical (hierarchical) dimensions.
- Respondents: The scale can be administered to individuals across different cultural contexts, making it ideal for cross-cultural research and studies in psychology and sociology. It can be applied in both academic and organizational settings.
Reliability and Validity
The Horizontal and Vertical Individualism and Collectivism Scale has been found to have good internal consistency and reliability across different cultural samples. Validation studies have demonstrated its effectiveness in capturing the four distinct dimensions of individualism and collectivism. It has been used in numerous cross-cultural research studies to analyze cultural differences and their impact on behavior and attitudes.
Available Versions
Multiple-Items
Reference
Singelis, T. M., Triandis, H. C., Bhawuk, D. P., & Gelfand, M. J. (1995). Horizontal and vertical dimensions of individualism and collectivism: A theoretical and measurement refinement. Cross-cultural research, 29(3), 240-275.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Horizontal and Vertical Individualism and Collectivism Scale measure?
It measures cultural orientations related to individualism and collectivism, distinguishing between horizontal (egalitarian) and vertical (hierarchical) dimensions.
Who can use the Horizontal and Vertical Individualism and Collectivism Scale?
It can be used by researchers and practitioners in cross-cultural psychology, sociology, and organizational behavior to assess cultural differences in individuals or groups.
How is the scale scored?
The scale includes four subscales (Horizontal Individualism, Vertical Individualism, Horizontal Collectivism, and Vertical Collectivism). Each subscale is scored separately, and higher scores indicate stronger endorsement of that orientation.
What is the difference between horizontal and vertical dimensions in the scale?
Horizontal dimensions emphasize equality, while vertical dimensions focus on hierarchy and competition. Horizontal individualism values autonomy with equality, and horizontal collectivism values group harmony with equality. Vertical individualism values competition, and vertical collectivism values group loyalty with acceptance of hierarchy.
Can this scale be used in organizational settings?
Yes, it can be applied in organizational research to explore how cultural orientations impact work behavior, teamwork, leadership preferences, and conflict resolution strategies.
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