A regulatory focus scale for healthcare workers: Evaluation and validation

Abstract

Background

Prior studies concentrated the application of regulatory focus on employees’ positive actions and behaviors. No such validating regulatory focus scales limit its future research opportunities.

Objective

The paper validates the regulatory focus scale initially created by Wallace and Chen (2006) within the context of Malaysia.

Methods

Initially, a review of the literature was carried out to identify the core components of regulatory focus and the relevant items. Subsequently, these items were evaluated by expert panel. A systematic sampling approach was applied, yielding 344 responses from the Malaysian healthcare workers. Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed as regulatory focus was operationalized as second-order formative construct because it formed by the prevention- and promotion- focused which considered as first-order reflective constructs. After that, the regulatory focus scale was assessed for convergent validity and discriminant validity.

Results

The results revealed that two dimensions namely promotion- and prevention-focused are well-suited for assessing regulatory focus. Regulatory focus is defined by these two dimensions. If any of these elements are omitted, the nature of regulatory focus could be changed.

Conclusions

This study contributes to the body of knowledge by validating regulatory focus scale as scale validation studies are scarcely found.