The Pet Attitude Scale (PAS)
This chapter evaluates the Pet Attitude Scale (PAS), first used in 1981 as a psychometric tool to measure attitudes toward companion animals. The authors conduct a review of past research to assess the validity of the scale, highlight the major findings from research using the scale, and suggest future avenues of research.
The authors conclude that the PAS has good psychometric properties as a measure of attitudes toward companion animals. Past research highlights that PAS scores of adolescents are correlated to those of their family members. Further, the ways in which this familial relationship works varies by culture. Limited research has been done on the latter topic and the authors suggest this as an avenue for future research.
Among other findings, studies using the PAS scale have also found that those people who grew up with companion animals have higher PAS scores and that higher PAS scores are correlated with more empathy toward humans. The authors suggest future research to examine the PAS scores of specific segments of the population that use animals, such as ranchers and butchers.
http://www.springerlink.com/content/j4518t78m5105820/