The measurement of flexibility, activeness, and reactiveness using an iterative scale construction method. (Volumes I and II)

The Theory of Work Adjustment (TWA) posits several personality/adjustment style constructs that have not yet been adequately measured. The purpose of this research was to develop an assessment instrument that would measure these concepts objectively and reliably, and to begin the validation of these TWA scales. Archival data were available on samples from two different populations, the members of which had completed the same vocational assessment instruments. Items were chosen from the California Psychological Inventory (CPI) to reflect the theoretical definitions of each TWA style construct. Scale development proceeded using a rational-empirical, iterative methodology that resulted in three internally consistent, unipolar scales: Low Flexibility, High Active, and High Reactive. A subsample of the development sample was selected randomly to match the number of subjects available in the second sample (n = 122). Hypotheses were stated about the expected strength and direction of correlations between the TWA style scale scores and demographic information and scores on other assessment instruments: the General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB), the Strong-Campbell Interest Inventory (SCII), and the Minnesota Importance Questionnaire (MIQ). The style scales were expected to be orthogonal, and were minimally correlated. There were few correlations between the TWA scales and demographic variables, and these were not replicated across samples. There were minimal findings to support any ability (GATB) hypotheses. The TWA scales were correlated with interest (SCII) variables, most notably positive correlations between High Active and E-theme variables. TWA scales were correlated with need/value (MIQ) variables less frequently. Low Flexibility correlated positively with Status and Comfort Value variables. High Active correlated positively with Autonomy and Status Value variables. High Reactive correlated positively with Comfort Value variables. Multiple regression analyses showed that almost half of the variance in Low Flexibility was associated with structure and predictability variables. From 35% to 73% of High Active variance was associated with extroversion, authority, and control variables. From 15% to 43% of the variance in High Reactive was associated with introversion, and perhaps disengagement from the environment.