Psychometrics features of the Snyder Hope Scale

The aim of this research was to investigate the reliability، validity and factor analysis of the Snyder Hope Scale. A correlational method employed. 371 (276 women and 95 men) participants were selected from a population of undergraduate students comprising of 6970 individuals studying in Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran during the academic year 2008 – 2009. Sampling was done via multiple stage cluster sampling. Research tools consisted of Snyder’s Hope Scale (1991)، Zimet’s Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (1988)، Maholice and Crumbaugh’s Meaning in Life Test (1964)، and Mohamadifar’s Suicide Ideation (2005). Data was analyzed using Factor analysis، correlation tests and reliability coefficients. Result of factor analysis showed that Snyder’s Hope Scale consisted of two factors which were labeled agency and pathways. the concurrent validity was measured by correlating the scores of the Hope Scale with those of Suicide Ideation Scale، Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and Meaning in Life Test. Result showed that there was a significant negative correlation between hope and suicide ideation and a significant positive relationship between hope and social support and meaning in life. Furthermore، results showed Cronbach’s alpha for the Hope Scale to be 0. 86 and test-retest reliability was 0. 81. Snyder’s Hope Scale can be considered to be a valid and reliable measure in an Iranian student population and may be considered for use in clinical and research settings for assessment، preparing participants for therapy and prevention.