Exploring the Factorial Structure and Criterion Validity of Institutional Trust in Slovakia

Abstract

: The present study aims to examine the dimensionality and criterion validity of the institutional trust construct in Slovakia using a comprehensive list of thirty-three public institutions. A representative sample of 600 Slovaks first reported their level of trust in institutions and then reported on their social trust, propensity to trust, dispositional trust, and trust radius measures. A holdout cross-validation method was used to evaluate the dimensionality of the institutional trust construct. Exploratory factor analysis yielded a six-factor solution, and the confirmatory factor analysis showed a good overall fit for the five-factor solution that included the following dimensions: political institutions, foreign institutions, social services institutions, order institutions, and media institutions. All five dimensions showed weak-to-moderate relationships with interpersonal trust measures. The present study highlights that delving into the dimensionality of institutional trust may contribute to the understanding of the phenomenon within specific geographical, political, societal, and historical, characteristics of the countries.