Social Distance Scale
Social Distance Scale (SDS) · Also known as: SDS, Bogardus Scale
The Social Distance Scale (SDS), also known as the Bogardus Scale, is a classic sociological instrument designed to measure the degree of social acceptance, prejudice, or social distance that individuals feel toward members of different ethnic, racial, or social groups. Originally developed by Emory Bogardus in 1933 and updated by researchers including Parrillo and Donoghue, the SDS assesses willingness for increasing levels of contact and intimacy with outgroup members, from casual acquaintance to family relationships. The scale is widely used in sociology, psychology, and health research to evaluate attitudes toward diversity and to track changes in intergroup relations.
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When to use it
The SDS is appropriate for use in research examining intergroup attitudes, prejudice, and social acceptance among diverse populations. It is valuable in healthcare settings (to evaluate provider attitudes toward diverse patients), educational programs (to assess student development of multicultural competence), organizational settings (to track attitudes in diversity initiatives), and surveys examining trends in societal acceptance of different groups.
Strengths & limitations
- Simple, intuitive structure based on concrete behavioral scenarios (marriage, friendship, work) rather than abstract attitudes
- Historically validated scale with extensive normative data and cross-national comparisons, supporting longitudinal and comparative research
- Efficient administration; provides rapid assessment of attitudes across multiple groups
- Can reveal hierarchies of acceptance, showing which groups are more socially proximate and which are more distant in respondents' eyes
- Social desirability bias; respondents may report greater acceptance than they genuinely feel, particularly in contemporary contexts where overt prejudice is socially censured
- The scale conflates different constructs (prejudice, discrimination, comfort with intimacy); high social distance may reflect unfamiliarity rather than antipathy
- Cultural differences in norms regarding intimacy and family relationships may affect interpretation of responses across diverse populations
- The hierarchical structure assumes that willingness for marriage is the ultimate measure of acceptance; some groups or individuals may not value intermarriage, complicating interpretation
Frequently asked
Why focus on marriage as the ultimate measure of closeness?
Bogardus used marriage as the most intimate social relationship; acceptance of marriage implies acceptance at all closer relationship levels. However, contemporary critiques note cultural variation in the value placed on intermarriage, suggesting the scale may need adaptation.
How reliable is the SDS given social desirability bias?
Like any self-report attitudinal measure, the SDS is vulnerable to social desirability bias. Combining it with behavioral measures, implicit association tests, or qualitative interviews provides a more complete picture of actual prejudice and discrimination.
Can the SDS be used to compare attitudes across countries?
Yes, the SDS has been used in cross-national research. However, interpret comparisons carefully, considering cultural norms regarding intimacy, family structure, and social acceptance that vary across contexts.
What do scores of 4–5 mean?
Scores in the 4–5 range indicate moderate social distance: the respondent is willing to have the outgroup member as a neighbor or acquaintance but not as a close friend or family member. This suggests moderate acceptance with reservations about deeper relationships.
Sources
- Bogardus, E. S. (1933). A social distance scale. Sociology and Social Research, 17(3), 265–271. link ↗
- Parrillo, V. N., & Donoghue, C. (2005). Updating the Bogardus social distance studies: A new national survey. The Social Science Journal, 42(2), 257–271. DOI: 10.1016/j.soscij.2005.03.011 ↗
How to cite this page
ScholarGate. (2026, June 3). Social Distance Scale (SDS). ScholarGate. https://scholargate.app/en/transcultural-nursing/social-distance-scale
Which method?
Set this method beside its closest kin and read them side by side — the library lays the books on the table; the choice is yours.
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