The construct validity of scores on Spreitzer’s Psychological Empowerment scale was examined. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of data from a sample of 160 nurses showed substantial support for Spreitzer’s four empowerment dimensions: meaning, competence, self-determination, and impact. In contrast to Spreitzer’s findings, the results of this study indicated that self-determination is a precursor of impact. This finding was cross-validated with data from a subset of the same sample 1 year later, after implementation of a job redesign program. In addition, results from structural equation modeling (SEM) demonstrated job characteristics to relate differentially to the empowerment dimensions, providing evidence for both convergent and discriminant validity of scores on the four empowerment dimensions. Finally, this study found that the four empowerment dimensions differentially related to organizational commitment and career intentions, providing evidence for the predictive validity of the Empowerment scale scores.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Anderson, J. C. , & Gerbing, D.W. (1988). Structural equation modeling in practice: A review and recommended two-step approach. Psychological Bulletin, 103, 411-423.
2.
Ashforth, B. E. (1989). The experience of powerlessness in organizations. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 43, 207-242.
3.
Bandura, A. (1977). Social learning theory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
4.
Bentler, P. M. (1990). Comparative fit indexes in structural models. Psychological Bulletin, 107, 238-246.
5.
Bentler, P. M. , & Chou, C. P. (1987). Practical issues in structural modeling. In J. S. Long (Ed.), Common problems/proper solutions: Avoiding error in quantitative research (pp. 161-192). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
6.
Bollen, K. A. (1989). Structural equations with latent variables. New York: John Wiley.
7.
Brief, A. , & Nord, W. R. (1990). Meaning of occupational work. Lexington, MA: Lexington Books.
8.
Conger, J. A. , & Kanungo, R. N. (1988). The empowerment process: Integrating theory and practice. Academy of Management Review, 13, 471-482.
9.
Deci, E. L. , Connell, J. P., & Ryan, R. M. (1989). Self-determination in a work organization. Journal of Applied Psychology, 74, 580-590.
10.
Gist, M. E. (1987). Self-efficacy: Implications for organizational behavior and human resource management. Academy of Management Review, 12, 472-485.
11.
Gist, M. E. , & Mitchell, T. R. (1992). Self-efficacy: A theoretical analysis of its determinants and malleability. Academy of Management Review, 17, 183-211.
12.
Greenberger, D. B. , & Strasser, S. (1986). Development and application of a model of personal control in organizations. Academy of Management Review, 11, 164-177.
13.
Hackman, J. R. , & Oldham, G. R. (1975). Development of the Job Diagnostic Survey. Journal of Applied Psychology, 60, 159-170.
14.
Hackman, J. R. , & Oldham, G. R. (1976). Motivation through design of work: Test of a theory. Organizational Behavior and Human Performance, 16, 250-279.
15.
Hackman, J. R. , & Oldham, G. R. (1980). Work redesign. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.
16.
Idaszak, J. R. & Drasgow, F. (1987). A revision of the job diagnostics survey: Elimination of a measurement artifact. Journal of Applied Psychology, 72, 69-74.
17.
Jöreskog, K. G. , & Sörbom, D. (1989). LISREL 7: A guide to program and applications. Chicago: Scientific Software International.
18.
Jöreskog, K. G. , & Sörbom, D. (1993). LISREL 8: User’s reference guide. Chicago: Scientific Software International.
19.
Judge, T. A. , & Welbourne, T. M. (1994). A confirmatory investigation of the dimensionality of the pay satisfaction questionnaire. Journal of Applied Psychology, 79, 461-466.
20.
Liden, R. C. , & Arad, S. (1996). A power perspective of empowerment and work groups: Implications for human resources management research. Research in Personnel and Human Resources Management, 14, 205-251.
21.
Liden, R. C., & Green, S. G. (1980). On the measurement of career orientation. Proceedings of the Midwest Academy of Management Meetings.
22.
Long, J. S. (1983). Covariance structure models: An introduction to LISREL. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
23.
Porter, L. W. , Steers, R. M., Mowday, R. T., & Boulian, P. V. (1974). Organizational commitment, job satisfaction, and turnover among psychiatric technicians. Journal of Applied Psychology, 59, 603-609.
24.
Spector, P. E. (1986). Perceived control by employees: A meta-analysis of studies concerning autonomy and participation at work. Human Relations, 39, 1005-1016.
25.
Spreitzer, G. M. (1995). Individual empowerment in the workplace: Dimensions, measurement, and validation. Academy of Management Journal, 38, 1442-1465.
26.
Spreitzer, G. M. (1996). Social structural characteristics of psychological empowerment. Academy of Management Journal, 39, 483-504.
27.
Spreitzer, G. M. , Kizilos, M. A., & Nason, S. W. (1997). A dimensional analysis of the relationship between psychological empowerment and effectiveness, satisfaction, and strain. Journal of Management, 23, 679-704.
28.
Thomas, K. W. , & Velthouse, B. A. (1990). Cognitive elements of empowerment: An “interpretive” model of intrinsic task motivation. Academy of Management Review, 15, 666-681.
29.
Wayne, S. J. , Liden, R. C., Bradway, L., Murphy, S., & Graf, I. K. (1994). Reward systems, empowerment, and effectiveness study: Feedback report [Technical report]. Chicago: Center for Human Resource Management, University of Illinois.
30.
Williams, L. J. , & Hazer, J. T. (1986). Antecedents and consequences of satisfaction and commitment in turnover models: A reanalysis using latent variable structural equation methods. Journal of Applied Psychology, 71, 219-231.
31.
Yarnold, P. R. (1996). Characterizing and circumventing Simpson’s paradox for ordered bivariate data. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 56, 430-442.
