Multi-Item Scale:
Item Text:
War is the beginning of salvation. [Krieg ist der Beginn der Erlösung.]
Different Answer Format Tested:
Nein
Findings:
The last item is the only one that causes confusion in terms of content and, in part, language. None of the test persons interpreted the term "salvation" in a religious sense.
TR10 reads the item in Turkish with astonishment. She asks to hear the German version of the question, but then confirms that the two versions are identical in content. After she reads the item again, she asks, "Well, if I start a war, let that be the one for my salvation" and finally chooses "don't agree at all". Another Turkish test person says that the Turkish translation does not speak of salvation but of freedom (TR09).
An Arabic test person says that in Arabic there is not salvation but peace (AR14).
TR10 reads the item in Turkish with astonishment. She asks to hear the German version of the question, but then confirms that the two versions are identical in content. After she reads the item again, she asks, "Well, if I start a war, let that be the one for my salvation" and finally chooses "don't agree at all". Another Turkish test person says that the Turkish translation does not speak of salvation but of freedom (TR09).
An Arabic test person says that in Arabic there is not salvation but peace (AR14).
Recommendations:
The Turkish and Arabic translations should be checked with regard to the German word "Erlösung". The test persons interpret the words heterogeneously in both languages. Alternatively, the fourth item could be deleted.