Construction and validation of Iranian Character Strengths Inventory

The aim of the present study was to classify character strengths and virtues, and construct and validate its assessment questionnaire in the Iranian student population. The present research method was of the qualitative-quantitative mixed type. In the qualitative section, Grounded Theory (GT) was used. Thirty-five students in the form of six focus groups (including 24 female students and 11 male students) from among the undergraduate and graduate students of University of [1]Tehran were selected, using judgmental sampling and were interviewed using semi-structured interviews. Responses were analyzed by content analysis and the use of two methods of framework and matrix analyses through the MAXQDA10 software. The findings indicated the existence of four factors or virtues in Iranian society: wisdom (including analytical thinking, self-regulation, moderation and prudence, and love of learning), courage (including bravery and honesty), humanity (including justice and fairness, kindness, and forgiveness) and transcendence (including appreciation of beauty and excellence, hope, and spirituality). The second study was conducted using a non-experimental (descriptive) method and a survey plan on 456 students. Analysis of the main components by varimax rotation showed a four-factor structure. These findings suggest that the Iranian Character Strengths Questionnaire can provide reliable data.