The moral role models scale: Assessing connections to and functions of moral exemplars

Recent accounts of character formation highlight the role of admiring and emulating moral role models or exemplars as a key facilitator of moral development. However, validated measures that assess the extent to which individuals affiliate with and are impacted by moral exemplars have not been developed. The present research fills this gap by developing and providing initial validity evidence for the Moral Role Models Scale (MRMS). Through exploratory and confirmatory analyses of data drawn from 456 participants, a single-factor version (10 items) of the MRMS was found to have both strong internal structure and satisfactory convergent and discriminant validity. The MRMS can be a useful tool to both researchers and practitioners of character education in exploring, clarifying, and evaluating the role of moral exemplars in moral formation.