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Can ipsative and single-item measures produce erroneous results in field studies of French and Raven's (1959) five bases of power? An empirical investigation

Article Abstract:

Research is presented on the single-item ranking (ipsative) scales that have been the dominant measures used to assess French and Raven's (1959) power bases in previous organizational research. These measures, along with multi-item and single-item Likert rating scales, were administered to 3 independent samples. Two of these samples were also administered measures of job satisfaction, motivation, role clarity and conflict, and organizational commitment; the 3rd sample was given a second administration of the 3 sets of power measures 2 weeks later. Analysis of variance and correlational and chi-square analyses yielded largely consistent results, indicating that single-item and ranking measures have serious psychometric shortcomings and that they produce distorted results in field-collected data. Implications for the interpretation of previous research are considered, as well as suggestions for improved future research. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)

Measurement, Psychometrics, Control (Psychology), French, J., Raven, B.H.

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Influence tactics used by subordinates: a theoretical and empirical analysis and refinement of the Kipnis, Schmidt, and Wilkinson subscales

Article Abstract:

The research of Kipnis, Schmidt, and Wilkinson (1980) is critiqued and their subordinate influence subscales examined in four studies. In the first, the subscale items were given to 34 judges, who rated each item for dimensionality. In the second, the 27 items plus several additions were administered to a sample of 251 employed MBA students, and exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted. A third study used a similar sample (N = 281) and the same analyses. Finally, a fourth study used 181 clerks and secretaries and the same analyses. The results support the dimensionality of the subscales but also indicate that substantial improvements could be made by deleting some subscale items and adding others. Suggestions for future research are discussed. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)

Analysis, Labor relations, Management research, Kipnis, D., Schmidt, S.M., Wilkinson, I.

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Development and application of new scales to measure the French and Raven (1959) bases of social power

Article Abstract:

Presented are results from a multistep, three-sample study that designed measures of reward, coercive, legitimate, expert, and referent power that are conceptually consistent with respect to the source of power. Construct definitions were developed and items were generated and evaluated for content validity. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses and item analyses were conducted to develop perceptually distinct scales with acceptable internal consistency and stable factor structures. The independence of the scales were next examined, and discriminant validity was assessed. Finally, zero-order and partial correlation concurrent validity analyses were conducted, and conclusions were drawn concerning both the new scales and the extant literature. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)

Organizational behavior, Balance of power

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