Sean McCallaghan, Renier Steyn
Abstract
Microaggressions (MA) represent brief, everyday discriminatory actions targeting minority individuals. This study aimed to identify, assess, and categorise prevalent measures of MA to determine the most effective measurement tool. A systematic review of scholarly articles was conducted to identify commonly utilised MA measurement tools. Assessment criteria to find the ideal tool included reliability and validity. Out of the initial pool of 103 articles, 25 measurement tools for MA were examined and subsequently ranked. The Racial and Ethnic Microaggression Scale (REMS) has emerged as a widely employed measure, while the Homonegative Microaggressions Scale (HMS) has demonstrated the broadest theoretical applicability. Despite the numerous MA measurement options available, meticulous evaluation led to the selection of the HMS as the preferred tool. Utilising this measure, it is believed, will contribute most to the development of a theoretically robust knowledge base. The systematic and scientific scrutiny which HMS offers can facilitate future studies and enhance the standing of MA examinations within the fields of behavioural and social sciences. By recommending the HMS as the preferred instrument, this study provides managers, practitioners, and organisational psychologists with a reliable and validated tool for diagnosing workplace MA, monitoring diverse climates, and evaluating the effectiveness of inclusion interventions, thereby strengthening organisational capacity to identify systemic bias, design evidence-based responses, and build inclusive cultures that support employee wellbeing and performance.