A scalar is, like other scalars, merely just a number. Think about their matrix representation: $$ \psi=(\phi_R\; \phi_L)^T$$ and $$\bar{\psi}=\psi^\dagger\gamma^0 =(\phi^*_L \; \phi_R^*).$$
It is clear that $\bar{\psi}\psi$ is a 1x1 matrix (scalar), and of course the operation is legitimate.
Those other forms are also 1x1 matrices. However under Lorentz transformation, an expression transforms like a scalar, or like a vector, etc. So it has nothing to do with the term "scalar" as a 1×1 matrix.
To answer the confusion between the three sources you list:
Using the signature convention of Figueroa O'Farrill, we have Majorana pinor representations for $p - q \pmod 8 = 0,6,7$ and Majorana spinor representations for $p - q \pmod 8 = 1$.
Pinor representations induce spinor representations (that will be reducible in even dimension) and so we get Majorana spinor representations for $p - q \pmod 8 = 0,1,6,7$.
Although $\mathcal{Cl}(p,q)$ is not isomorphic to $\mathcal{Cl}(q,p)$, their even subalgebras are isomorphic and so can be embedded in either signature. This means that Majorana pinor representations in $\mathcal{Cl}(q,p)$ also induce spinor representations in the even subalgebra of $\mathcal{Cl}(p,q)$ and so we also get an induced Majorana spinor representation for $p - q \pmod 8 = 2$
(from $q - p \pmod 8 = 6$; this is often called the pseudo-Majorana representation).
Fecko has his signature convention swapped compared to Figueroa O'Farrill, and so swapping back we see that his $0,2 \pmod 8$ gives us $0,6 \pmod 8$. One can also see from his table (22.1.8) that on the page you reference he was listing signatures with Clifford algebra isomorphisms to a single copy of the real matrix algebra, but his table also gives us $p - q \pmod 8 = 1$, converting signature convention to $p - q \pmod 8 = 7$ which is the isomorphism to two copies of the real matrix algebra and so also yields Majorana pinor representations. He doesn't talk about Majorana (or pseudo-Majorana) spinor representations here and so doesn't list $p - q \pmod 8 = 1,2$.
As for Polchinski, he includes pseudo-Majorana representations (or is signature convention agnostic) and so lists all of $p - q \pmod 8 = 0,1,2,6,7$.
To answer the question of in which dimensions Majorana spinors (including pseudo-Majorana) exist:
For a signature $(p,q)$ they exist whenever any of $\mathcal{Cl}(p,q)$, $\mathcal{Cl}(q,p)$ or the even subalgebra of $\mathcal{Cl}(p,q)$ are isomorphic to either one or a direct sum of two copies of the real matrix algebra. This means $p - q \pmod 8 = 0,1,2,6,7$.
If one discounts pseudo-Majorana spinors, then one removes $\mathcal{Cl}(q,p)$ from the previous statement and this means $p - q \pmod 8 = 0,1,6,7$.
Of course, this does not talk about the naturally quaternionic symplectic and pseudo-symplectic Majorana representations.
One can take the algebra isomorphisms of low-dimensional Clifford algebras ($\mathcal{Cl}(1,0) \cong \mathbb{C}$, $\mathcal{Cl}(0,1) \cong \mathbb{R} \oplus \mathbb{R}$ etc.) and use the isomorphisms between Clifford algebras of different signatures ($\mathcal{Cl}(p+1,q+1) \cong \mathcal{Cl}(p,q) \otimes \mathcal{Cl}(1,1)$ etc.) to bootstrap the equivalent matrix algebra isomorphisms of Clifford algebras (and similarly for their even subalgebras) of arbitrary signature and from there one can see when real forms exist.
Best Answer
The reasoning is supposed to go as follows:
$\gamma^5$ commutes with all algebra elements, hence with the whole image of the algebra representation.
$\gamma^5$ has at least two different eigenvalues, meaning it is not a scalar multiple of the identity.
If the representation of the $S^{\mu\nu}$ (that form the Lorentz algebra $\mathfrak{so}(1,3)$) were irreducible, $\gamma^5$ would be a scalar multiple of the identity by Schur's lemma, which would contradict 2.
Therefore, the representation of the $S^{\mu\nu}$ must be reducible.
Caveat: The Dirac representation is irreducible as the representation of the Clifford algebra, see e.g. this question and its answers.