V alidation of a French translation of the Goldsmiths Musical Sophistication Index, an instrument to assess self - reported musical skills and behaviors

Background: The Goldsmiths Musical Sophistication Index (Gold-MSI) (1) is a self-report inventory measuring levels of different musical abilities and expertise. Although the Gold-MSI is available in English, German and Danish, no French version has yet been validated. Aims: The current study aims at analyzing reliability and validity of a French translation of the Gold-MSI in a large Belgian/French population. Method: The French version of the Gold-MSI has been obtained after different traditional translation steps. The final version was completed online by 795 persons. Results: The McDonald’s coefficient omega, Cronbach’s alpha and Guttman’s lambda indicate that the French version of the Gold-MSI has very good psychometric properties and internal consistency. Conclusions: This study shows that the French version of the Goldsmiths Musical Sophistication Index is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring levels of different musical abilities and expertise. This translation can contribute to research about musical skills and behaviors in French speaking regions