The Translation and Validation of the 18‐Item Davos Assessment of Cognitive Biases Scale in Arabic

ABSTRACT Background Validated assessment tools to measure cognitive biases in Arabic‐speaking contexts are still lacking, and this study proposes to fill this gap by translating and validating the 18‐item Davos Assessment of Cognitive Biases Scale (DACOBS) in Arabic. The specific objectives are the following: (1) examine the factor structure and internal consistency reliability of an Arabic translation of the DACOBS, (2) test measurement invariance across sex, and (3) investigate correlations with measures of psychotic experiences and delusional ideation. Method Cross‐sectional data were collected online from Tunisian general population individuals over 18 years of age during the period from August 2025 to January 2026. Results The 18 items of the scale loaded into four factors. The internal consistency of the Arabic DACOBS‐18 was acceptable to excellent, with a Cronbach's α value of 0.76 for the total scale and ranging from 0.69 to 0.80 for the four subscales. Invariance of the DACOBS‐18 was supported in our study, implying that the scale has comparable functioning across male and female samples. Our results showed a lack of sex differences in DACOBS‐18 mean scores. Finally, DACOBS‐18 total score and different sub‐scores correlated positively with self‐reported delusional ideation and positive psychotic experiences more broadly. Conclusion Our study offers the first valid, reliable and practical instrument to assess cognitive biases in Arabic‐speaking contexts. Making available the DACOBS‐18 for self‐report use among Arabic‐speaking individuals could facilitate a more comprehensive evaluation of cognitive biases in local Arab contexts and enhance clinical practice in the field of psychosis in the region.