Development and Validation of the Criminal Aptitude Inventory (Urdu): A Comprehensive Assessment Across Convicted Prisoners and the General Population

Waqar Husain; Aqsa Murtaza; Muhammad Ahmad Husain; Farrukh Ijaz

doi:10.5812/amh-145109

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https://doi.org/10.5812/amh-145109

Development and Validation of the Criminal Aptitude Inventory (Urdu): A Comprehensive Assessment Across Convicted Prisoners and the General Population

Author(s):

Waqar Husain

^1,*,

Aqsa Murtaza¹,

Muhammad Ahmad Husain¹,

Farrukh Ijaz¹

1COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan

Annals of Military and Health Sciences Research:Vol. 22, issue 2; e145109

Published online:Jul 13, 2024

Article type:Research Article

Received:Jan 17, 2024

Accepted:Jun 11, 2024

How to Cite:Waqar HusainAqsa MurtazaMuhammad Ahmad HusainFarrukh IjazDevelopment and Validation of the Criminal Aptitude Inventory (Urdu): A Comprehensive Assessment Across Convicted Prisoners and the General Population.Ann Mil Health Sci Res.22(2):e145109.https://doi.org/10.5812/amh-145109.

Abstract

Background:

Criminal aptitude testing benefits police and other fields of law enforcement. Earlier literature lacked an Urdu-language scale for criminal aptitude.

Objectives:

The present study developed and validated a new scale to measure criminal aptitude in Urdu speakers.

Methods:

The development and validation of the Criminal Aptitude Inventory (CAI) unfolded across three distinct phases, involving a total of 1675 participants (51.34% women), including convicted prisoners (37.33%). In the initial phase, the CAI underwent development and preliminary validation through exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Subsequently, the second phase utilized Confirmatory Factor Analysis to further confirm the scale's validity. The third phase focused on analyzing the CAI's convergent and discriminant validity by investigating its relationship with antisocial personality disorder, morality, religiosity, and spirituality.

Results:

The results demonstrated high reliability and validity of the CAI, affirming its suitability for future applications. The final version of the scale comprises a single factor and consists of 36 items, each utilizing a 5-point Likert-type response format. Indicators such as Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin's values (0.984), Cronbach’s alpha (0.984), average item-total correlation (P < 0.001), comparative fit index (0.936), Tucker-Lewis Index (0.932), Goodness of Fit Index (GFI=.939), root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA = 0.043), convergent validity with antisocial personality disorder (r = 0.458; P < 0.01), and discriminant validity with morality (r = -0.396; P < 0.01), religiosity (r = -.318; P < 0.01), and spirituality (r = -.453; P < 0.01) established the reliability and validity of the CAI.

Conclusions:

The dual-source data collection strategy employed in this study, drawing from both convicted prisoners and the general population, enhances and operationalizes the scale. This approach ensures its applicability across diverse Urdu-speaking communities in Pakistan and India.

Keywords

1. Background

The construct of crime is difficult to define due to cultural variations (1, 2). It is legally described as intentional acts that violate criminal law, committed without defense, and penalized by the state (3). Traditional views on crime often face criticism for favoring powerful societal groups over moral norms (4). Crime manifests in various forms such as personal crimes (e.g., murder, robbery), property crimes (e.g., burglary, theft), consensual or victimless crimes (e.g., prostitution, illegal gambling), white-collar crimes (e.g., embezzlement, fraud), organized crimes (e.g., kidnapping, human trafficking), juvenile delinquency (crimes by those under 18), cybercrime (e.g., cyber terrorism, Internet fraud), and public safety violations (5).

Theorists often examine common traits among criminals when studying criminal behavior. Biological theories suggest that criminals are inherently predisposed to crime due to distinct biological characteristics. Sociological theories attribute criminal behavior to social opportunities and inequalities. Anthropological theories explore the influence of social relationships, class stratification, rapid social change, resource access, division of labor, colonized societies, power differentials, and wealth. Economic theories focus on cost-benefit analysis, proposing that individuals commit crimes when benefits surpass potential consequences. Psychological theories consider individualized and subjective factors such as cognition, personality, psychopathology, and positive reinforcement (1, 3-6).

Genetics and psychosocial variables both influence criminality. Men are more likely to commit crimes (1, 7). Psychopathy and sociopathy are also linked to criminal activity, particularly antisocial personality disorder (8, 9). Criminals exhibit chronic lying, lack of empathy, conditional love, blame-shifting, irresponsibility, intolerance, and poor self-control. Impulsivity, sensation-seeking, cognitive-social anxiety, antagonism, and violence are also common (10). Childhood environment, inconsistent love and discipline, physical abuse, maternal smoking during pregnancy, low birth weight, perinatal trauma, child neglect, low parental attachment, family discord, substance abuse in the family, poor parental supervision, large family size, birth order, bed-wetting, school disciplinary issues, low academic performance, dropping out of school, and childhood lead exposure all contribute to criminal behavior (7).

Criminal aptitude testing is essential in forensic psychology for identifying criminal inclinations. The existing literature lacks measures to test criminal aptitude in Urdu.

2. Objectives

The current study aimed to develop and validate the Criminal Aptitude Inventory (CAI) to fill this gap. Data was collected from both convicted prisoners and the general population. This dual-source data collection strategy, adapted in the series of four phases of the current study, strengthens and applies the CAI to other Urdu-speaking groups in Pakistan and India.

3. Methods

The present study involved three phases. Phase 1 focused on the development and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) of the CAI. Phase 2 involved the confirmatory factor analysis of the CAI. Phase 3 established the convergent and discriminant validity of the CAI.

3.1. Participants

The study involved 1675 participants across its three phases. Participants in phase 1 (n = 608; men = 66%; married = 37%; prisoners = 52%; age range = 18 - 73 years, M = 29; education range = 5 - 18 years formal education, M = 11), phase 2 (n = 956; men = 34%; married = 89%; prisoners = 4%; age range = 18 - 29 years, M = 21; education range = 10 - 20 years formal education, M = 14), and phase 3 (n = 111; men = 46%; married = 19%; age range = 18 - 51 years, M = 25; education range = 10 - 18 years formal education, M = 14) were conveniently selected while visiting different prisons and educational institutions in Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Haripur, and Attock, Pakistan.

3.2. Instruments

A new scale named the "Criminal Aptitude Inventory (CAI)" was developed. This scale consists of 36 items presented in Urdu, with responses recorded on a 5-point Likert Scale ranging from strongly disagree to strongly agree. To assess the convergent and discriminant validity of the CAI, two established measures were employed: The Sukoon Moral, Religious, and Spiritual Intelligence Scale (this study) and the Anti-Social Personality Disorder Sub-Scale of the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire (Hyler et al., 1992).

3.3. Procedure

The study obtained ethical approval from the Ethics Review Committee at (the Department of Humanities at COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad Campus, Pakistan). Data was collected during October-November 2023. Researchers individually approached potential participants in various settings, including prisons, educational institutions, and public offices. Each participant received a detailed explanation of the study's purpose, and their informed consent to participate was obtained. The entire study adhered to ethical guidelines in accordance with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its subsequent amendments, ensuring the ethical conduct of research procedures.

3.4. Analysis

The analysis utilized SPSS and JASP software. Both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to assess the reliability and validity of the instrument. Additionally, the Pearson correlation coefficient was calculated to determine the convergent and discriminant validity of the CAI.

4. Results

4.1. The Psychometric Properties of Criminal Aptitude Inventory (CAI)

In the initial development of the CAI, a total of 50 items were generated through three focus group discussions with 60 convicted prisoners, who shared their perspectives on criminality and criminals. Based on these discussions, 50 statements were formulated and submitted to a panel of 5 clinical psychologists for face validity assessment. The panel approved the statements, affirming their validity for measuring the construct of criminal aptitude. Data gathered in all four phases of the study was found reliable (Table 1).

Table 1.Reliability and Data Accuracy (n = 1675)

Variables	Items	α	Mean ± SD	%	Range		Skewness	Kurtosis
Variables	Items	α	Mean ± SD	%			Skewness	Kurtosis	Potential	Actual
Phase 1 (n = 608)
CAI	36	0.984	66.923 ± 38.052	37.179	36 - 180	36 - 179	1.519	1.153
Phase 2 (n = 956)
CAI	36	0.950	50.780 ± 17.463	28.211	36 - 180	38 - 176	3.762	19.178
Phase 3 (n = 111)
CAI	36	0.882	58.216 ± 16.415	32.342	36 - 180	39 - 137	1.480	3.965
Religious intelligence	10	0.870	58.991 ± 9.254	84.273	10 - 70	15 - 70	-1.707	4.478
Spiritual intelligence	6	0.799	31.622 ± 5.842	75.290	6 - 42	15 - 42	-0.390	-0.247
Moral intelligence	4	0.604	22.892 ± 3.262	81.757	4 - 28	13 - 28	-0.393	-0.072
Anti-social personality disorder	7	0.556	2.711 ± 1.775	38.728	0 - 7	0 - 7	.90	-0.783

Reliability and Data Accuracy (n = 1675)

4.2. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA)

Phase 1 employed principal component analysis with Varimax Rotation, concluding with a single-factor solution for 36 items (Table 2), discarding 14 items for having insufficient validity (item extraction values less than 0.4). The sample size (n = 608) for EFA was found to be excellent (KMO = 0.984), and the variance explained was 64.73%. Cronbach’s alpha reliability was 0.984. Communalities for all items were acceptable, ranging from 0.42 to 0.77 (Table 2). Item-total correlations were highly significant for all items, affirming their relationship with the overall scale (Table 2).

Table 2.Exploratory Factor Analysis (Phase 1; n = 608) ^a

Item No.	Factor Loadings	Extraction	Item-Total r ^b
1	0.707	0.499	0.710
2	0.813	0.660	0.812
3	0.826	0.682	0.823
4	0.767	0.588	0.767
5	0.811	0.657	0.809
6	0.711	0.506	0.715
7	0.737	0.544	0.739
8	0.819	0.670	0.817
9	0.732	0.535	0.733
10	0.742	0.550	0.740
11	0.788	0.620	0.789
12	0.837	0.700	0.837
13	0.828	0.686	0.828
14	0.846	0.716	0.845
15	0.743	0.552	0.745
16	0.880	0.775	0.878
17	0.876	0.767	0.874
18	0.751	0.563	0.751
19	0.829	0.687	0.826
20	0.761	0.580	0.759
21	0.821	0.675	0.821
22	0.842	0.710	0.842
23	0.805	0.648	0.805
24	0.817	0.667	0.818
25	0.876	0.767	0.876
26	0.799	0.638	0.801
27	0.825	0.681	0.822
28	0.811	0.658	0.812
29	0.877	0.769	0.875
30	0.870	0.756	0.868
31	0.852	0.726	0.849
32	0.881	0.776	0.879
33	0.854	0.730	0.855
34	0.816	0.666	0.818
35	0.684	0.468	0.689
36	0.655	0.429	0.662

Exploratory Factor Analysis (Phase 1; n = 608) ^a

4.3. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA)

Phase 2 involved 956 participants to test the 36-item single-factor solution. The factor loadings were statistically significant (Table 3 P < 0.01), indicating strong item relationships with the original factor. A heterotrait-monotrait ratio of 1 suggested good discriminant validity. Reliability was also high, with a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.950. The CFA model demonstrated good fit according to several fit indices, including Comparative Fit Index (CFI): 0.936; Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI): 0.932; Bentler-Bonett Non-normed Fit Index (NNFI): 0.932; Bentler-Bonett Normed Fit Index (NFI): 0.904; Parsimony Normed Fit Index (PNFI): 0.852; Bollen's Relative Fit Index (RFI): 0.898; Bollen's Incremental Fit Index (IFI): 0.936; Relative Noncentrality Index (RNI): 0.936; Goodness of Fit Index (GFI): 0.939; root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA): 0.043; and Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) test: 0.980.

Table 3.Confirmatory Factor Analysis (Phase 2; n = 956) ^a

Item	Factor Loadings				Residual Variances
Item	Estimate	SE	z	P	Estimate	SE	z	P
1	0.343	0.026	13.236	< 0.001	0.564	0.026	21.698	< 0.001
2	0.393	0.018	21.520	< 0.001	0.233	0.011	21.337	< 0.001
3	0.436	0.018	24.054	< 0.001	0.211	0.010	21.149	< 0.001
4	0.430	0.021	20.222	< 0.001	0.327	0.015	21.415	< 0.001
5	0.471	0.021	22.904	< 0.001	0.282	0.013	21.241	< 0.001
6	0.452	0.028	16.408	< 0.001	0.601	0.028	21.596	< 0.001
7	0.384	0.030	12.701	< 0.001	0.773	0.036	21.713	< 0.001
8	0.467	0.023	20.627	< 0.001	0.368	0.017	21.394	< 0.001
9	0.489	0.025	19.929	< 0.001	0.439	0.020	21.435	< 0.001
10	0.482	0.022	21.927	< 0.001	0.334	0.016	21.315	< 0.001
11	0.413	0.025	16.340	< 0.001	0.508	0.024	21.599	< 0.001
12	0.459	0.022	20.599	< 0.001	0.356	0.017	21.395	< 0.001
13	0.523	0.021	24.805	< 0.001	0.278	0.013	21.088	< 0.001
14	0.527	0.025	21.485	< 0.001	0.421	0.020	21.333	< 0.001
15	0.361	0.036	9.938	< 0.001	1.155	0.053	21.774	< 0.001
16	0.560	0.021	26.465	< 0.001	0.261	0.012	20.913	< 0.001
17	0.546	0.018	30.388	< 0.001	0.153	0.008	20.325	< 0.001
18	0.532	0.023	22.677	< 0.001	0.371	0.017	21.264	< 0.001
19	0.499	0.017	29.070	< 0.001	0.151	0.007	20.571	< 0.001
20	0.535	0.018	30.308	< 0.001	0.149	0.007	20.348	< 0.001
21	0.481	0.024	19.898	< 0.001	0.428	0.020	21.437	< 0.001
22	0.527	0.020	26.521	< 0.001	0.229	0.011	20.912	< 0.001
23	0.481	0.025	19.037	< 0.001	0.476	0.022	21.482	< 0.001
24	0.481	0.028	17.456	< 0.001	0.588	0.027	21.540	< 0.001
25	0.455	0.023	19.429	< 0.001	0.406	0.019	21.461	< 0.001
26	0.484	0.024	19.820	< 0.001	0.436	0.020	21.438	< 0.001
27	0.522	0.019	26.915	< 0.001	0.215	0.010	20.864	< 0.001
28	0.517	0.022	23.693	< 0.001	0.310	0.015	21.181	< 0.001
29	0.489	0.018	26.420	< 0.001	0.200	0.010	20.921	< 0.001
30	0.538	0.019	28.760	< 0.001	0.183	0.009	20.614	< 0.001
31	0.504	0.019	26.798	< 0.001	0.203	0.010	20.877	< 0.001
32	0.535	0.019	27.489	< 0.001	0.211	0.010	20.770	< 0.001
33	0.494	0.026	18.898	< 0.001	0.512	0.024	21.488	< 0.001
34	0.511	0.027	18.892	< 0.001	0.547	0.025	21.486	< 0.001
35	0.394	0.031	12.923	< 0.001	0.784	0.036	21.706	< 0.001
36	0.270	0.040	6.664	< 0.001	1.477	0.068	21.824	< 0.001

Confirmatory Factor Analysis (Phase 2; n = 956) ^a

4.4. Convergent and Discriminant Validity

In phase 3, the CAI was tested for convergent and discriminant validity. The CAI revealed a significant positive correlation with antisocial personality disorder (r = 0.458; P < 0.01) and significantly inverse correlations with morality (r = -0.396; P < 0.01), religiosity (r = -0.318; P < 0.01), and spirituality (r = -0.453; P < 0.01).

Overall, the findings from the validation indicate that the CAI is sufficiently reliable and valid for further use in assessing criminal aptitude.

4.5. Additional Findings

The contrast in criminal aptitude between prisoners and the general population was highly significant, showing a large effect size (Table 4 M = 85.50 vs 46.68; P = 0.000; Cohen’s d = 1.185). Additionally, a notable difference in criminal aptitude was observed between men and women, with men exhibiting significantly higher levels and a large effect size (Table 3 M = 77.90 vs 45.64; P = 0.000; Cohen’s d = 0.925). The distinction in criminal aptitude between married and unmarried individuals was also statistically significant, though with a small effect size (Table 3 M = 72 vs 63.89; P = 0.011; Cohen’s d = 0.214). Furthermore, individuals with insufficient monthly income demonstrated a significantly higher level of criminal aptitude, indicating a large effect size (Table 3 M = 79.18 vs 55.45; P = 0.000; Cohen’s d = 0.655).

Table 4.Differences Between Criminal Tendencies-Paired Sample t-test (Phase 1; n = 608)

Category	N	M	t(606)	P-Value	Cohen’s d
Criminal tendencies				0.000	1.185
Prisoners	317	85.505 ± 43.761	14.599
General	291	46.680 ± 12.467
Gender				0.000	0.925
Men	401	77.905 ± 42.468	10.809
Women	207	45.647 ± 8.653
Marital status				0.011	0.214
Married	227	72.009 ± 38.813	2.556
Single	381	63.892 ± 37.314
The level of income				0.000	0.655
Low income	294	79.187 ± 43.929	8.070
Moderate income	313	55.454 ± 27.023

Differences Between Criminal Tendencies-Paired Sample t-test (Phase 1; n = 608)

5. Discussion

In forensic psychology, evaluating criminal aptitude is essential for determining whether an individual has a tendency toward criminal behavior. Existing literature lacked methods to evaluate criminal aptitude in Urdu, despite its great relevance. This study aimed to fill this gap through the development and validation of the CAI.

The development and validation process was carried out in three phases. The CAI was developed and then subjected to EFA during the first phase. The second phase involved confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and the third phase established the convergent and discriminant validity of the CAI. A total of 1279 individuals participated in the study across all three phases, including both incarcerated inmates and members of the general population.

The CAI measures criminal aptitude based on common factors that lead individuals toward criminal behavior. The items of the CAI address poverty, joblessness, immorality, violence, purposelessness, bad company, childhood experiences, rejection, loneliness, narcissism, envy, abuse, erroneous beliefs, drug addiction, injustice, and cognitive dissonance. All these factors have been regarded as significant contributors to criminal behavior (1, 3-6).

5.1. Implications

The CAI plays a vital role for prison psychologists by enabling them to monitor the progress of criminal aptitude during psychosocial rehabilitation programs. It can also serve as a comparative measure to assess the efficacy of correctional programs. Additionally, the CAI provides a foundation for future investigations in Pakistan and other regions where Urdu is spoken, such as India.

5.2. Conclusions

The CAI, developed and validated in this study, is an effective tool for measuring criminal tendencies in Urdu-speaking communities. The rigorous psychometric evaluations performed ensure the reliability and validity of the CAI. The CAI has tremendous potential for use in various forensic and psychological contexts, assisting law enforcement and psychological examinations in detecting and addressing criminal behavior tendencies.

Footnotes

Authors' Contribution: W.H., conceived and designed the evaluation, performed statistical analysis, and drafted the manuscript; A.M., M.A.H., and F.I. collected the data and reviewed the literature.
Conflict of Interests Statement: The authors affirm that there are no conflicts of interest concerning the publication of this manuscript. There is no affiliation with any organization or entity that could potentially bias the research findings or influence the publication process.
Data Availability: The data relevant to this paper is available upon request. Interested parties may obtain access to the dataset by contacting the corresponding author directly. This approach ensures the privacy and confidentiality of the participants' information while facilitating academic transparency and integrity.
Ethical Approval: The ethical approval was granted by the departmental review committee at the Department of Humanities, COMSATS University Islamabad, Pakistan. All the procedures performed in this study were in accordance with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.
Funding/Support: This study received no external funding from any source. The research was entirely self-funded, underscoring the author's dedication to independent and unbiased inquiry.
Informed Consent: Informed verbal consent was obtained from all the participants. This process ensured that participants were fully aware of the nature of the study, including its purpose, procedures, and potential risks.

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Author(s):

Waqar Husain:[PubMed][Scholar]
Aqsa Murtaza:[PubMed][Scholar]
Muhammad Ahmad Husain:[PubMed][Scholar]
Farrukh Ijaz:[PubMed][Scholar]