Forced-Choice Assessment of Work-Related Maladaptive Personality Traits: Preliminary Evidence From an Application of Thurstonian Item Response Modeling.

This article describes an investigation of whether Thurstonian item response modeling is a viable method for assessment of maladaptive traits. Forced-choice responses from 420 working adults to a broad-range personality inventory assessing six maladaptive traits were considered. The Thurstonian item response model's fit to the forced-choice data was adequate, while the fit of a counterpart item response model to responses to the same items but arranged in a single-stimulus design was poor. Monotrait heteromethod correlations indicated corresponding traits in the two formats overlapped substantially, although they did not measure equivalent constructs. A better goodness of fit and higher factor loadings for the Thurstonian item response model, coupled with a clearer conceptual alignment to the theoretical trait definitions, suggested that the single-stimulus item responses were influenced by biases that the independent clusters measurement model did not account for. Researchers may wish to consider forced-choice designs and appropriate item response modeling techniques such as Thurstonian item response modeling for personality questionnaire applications in industrial psychology, especially when assessing maladaptive traits. We recommend further investigation of this approach in actual selection situations and with different assessment instruments.

Structured behavioral interview as a legal guarantee for ensuring equal employment opportunities for women: a meta-analysis / La entrevista conductual estructurada como garantía legal que asegura la igualdad de oportunidades laborales para la mujer: meta-análisis

Equal employment opportunities for women are a legal requirement in many legal environments, including the United States (US) and European Union (EU) legislations. In this context, indirect discrimination in the access to jobs is an illegal practice. For this reason, personnel selection procedures must be fair for protected-by-law groups. Specifically, gender discrimination is the focus of research on employment interviews. This article presents a meta-analysis of gender differences in the scores in structured behavioral interviews (SBI). A database was created consisting of studies conducted with real candidates and employees. Psychometric meta-analysis methods were applied. The results showed that the SBI is fair for women and men and does not show evidence of adverse impact and indirect discrimination. Implications for the practice of personnel selection are discussed and future research is suggested (AU)

La igualdad de oportunidades laborales para la mujer es un requisito legal en muchos marcos legales, como la legislación de Estados Unidos o de la Unión Europea. En este contexto, la discriminación indirecta en el acceso al trabajo es una práctica ilegal. Este es el motivo por el que los procedimientos de selección de personal deben ser justos para los grupos protegidos por ley. En concreto, la discriminación de género es el centro de investigación en las entrevistas de empleo. Este artículo presenta un metaanálisis de las diferencias de género en las puntuaciones de las entrevistas conductuales estructuradas (ECE). Se elaboró una base de datos compuesta de estudios realizados con aspirantes y empleados reales, aplicándose métodos metaanalíticos psicométricos. Los resultados indican que la ECE es justa para mujeres y hombres, no habiendo señales de efectos negativos ni de discriminación indirecta. Se comentan las consecuencias para la práctica en selección de personal, a la vez que se recomienda la necesidad de investigación futura (AU)

Spanish-language adaptation of Morgeson and Humphrey’s Work Design Questionnaire (WDQ)

Since work organizations became the subject of scientific research, how to operationalize and measure dimensions of work design has been an issue, mainly due to concerns about internal consistency and factor structure. In response, Morgeson and Humphrey (2006) built the Work Design Questionnaire -WDQ-, an instrument that identifies and measures these dimensions in different work and organizational contexts. This paper presents the instruent’s adaptation into Spanish using reliability and validity analysis and drawing on a sample of 1035 Spanish workers who hold various jobs in an array of occupational categories. The total instrument’s internal consistency was Cronbach’s alpha of .92 and the various scales’ reliability ranged from .70 to .96, except for three dimensions. There was initially a difference in the comparative fit of the two versions’ factor structures, but the model with 21 work characteristics (motivational -task and knowledge-, social, and work context) showed the highest goodness of fit of the various models tested, confirming previous results from the U.S. version as well as adaptations into other languages and contexts. CFA results indicated goodness of fit of factor configurations corresponding to each of the four major categories of work characteristics, with CFI and TLI around .90, as well as SRMR and RMSEA below .08. Thus it brings to the table a reliable, valid measure of work design with clear potential applications in research as well as professional practice, applications that could improve working conditions, boost productivity, and generate more personal and professional development opportunities for workers (AU)

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Transformational leadership and group potency in small military units: The mediating role of group identification and cohesion / El liderazgo transformacional y la potencia grupal en unidades militares pequeñas: el papel mediador de la identificación y cohesión grupales

In the present study, we examined an exploratory model to assess the relationship between transformational leadership and group potency and analyze the mediating role of group identification and cohesion. The research was conducted with squads of the Spanish Army. The sample was composed of 243 members of 51 squads of operational units. Our findings highlighted the importance of the transformational leadership style of command of non-commissioned officers (NCOs) due to its positive relationship with the group potency of the squad. We also analyzed the indirect relationships between transformational leadership and group identification and group cohesion and found that the latter variables played a mediating role between transformational leadership and group potency. The conclusions of this study are relevant due to the growing importance of transformational leadership and actions implemented at lower levels of the command chain for the success of missions of security organizations and defense (AU)

En el presente estudio se examina un modelo exploratorio que evalúa la relación entre liderazgo transformacional y potencia del grupo donde se analiza el papel mediador de la identificación de grupo y la cohesión grupal. La investigación se realizó con pelotones del ejército español. La muestra se compuso de 243 miembros de 51 pelotones de unidades operativas. Se destacan de los resultados la importancia del estilo de liderazgo transformacional en el mando de los suboficiales debido a su relación positiva con la potencia de grupo. Se analizaron las relaciones indirectas entre variables existiendo un papel mediador de la identificación y la cohesión entre liderazgo transformacional y la potencia del grupo. Las conclusiones de este estudio son relevantes debido a la importancia del liderazgo transformacional para ser ejercido en los niveles más básicos de la cadena de mando con objeto de obtener éxito en las misiones asignadas a las organizaciones de defensa y seguridad (AU)

Employees’ psychological capital, job satisfaction, insecurity, and intentions to quit: the direct and indirect effects of authentic leadership / Capital psicológico, satisfacción laboral, inseguridad e intención de abandono de los trabajadores: efectos directos e indirectos del liderazgo auténtico

To investigate the impact of an authentic leader on employees’ psychological capital (PsyCap), job satisfaction, job insecurity, and intentions to quit the organisation, mediation analyses, as well as a conditional process analyses, were conducted using data collected from an offshore organisation. Findings showed that employees who perceived their leader as being authentic reported more job satisfaction and less job insecurity and intentions to quit the organisations. Moreover, results also showed an indirect effect of authentic leadership through PsyCap. Finally, the influence of the captains’ authenticity did not vary depending on whether or not the captain was the employees’ immediate superior. Results from this study suggest that efforts should be made to focus on the components of an authentic leader during recruitment, training, or intervention. Conclusively, employees working in the marine/offshore sector are faced with persistent fluctuations and uncertainties, and having an authentic leader will promote job satisfaction, while reducing both job insecurities and turnover intentions among employees (AU)

Con objeto de investigar la influencia del líder auténtico en el capital psicológico de los trabajadores (cap-psi), la satisfacción en el trabajo, la inseguridad laboral y la intención de abandonar la empresa, se llevaron a cabo análisis de mediación y de procesos condicionales con datos sacados de una empresa offshore. Los resultados muestran que los trabajadores que percibían a su jefe como auténtico estaban más satisfechos y con menor inseguridad laboral e intención de abandonar la empresa. También había un efecto indirecto del liderazgo auténtico a través del capital psicológico. Por último, la influencia de la autenticidad de los jefes no variaba por que el jefe fuera el inmediato superior. Estos resultados indican que habría que hacer hincapié en los componentes del líder auténtico durante el reclutamiento, la formación y la intervención. Como conclusión, los trabajadores del sector marino/offshore se enfrentan a continuas fluctuaciones e incertidumbre, por lo que la existencia de un liderazgo auténtico aumentaría la satisfacción a la par que disminuirían tanto la inseguridad laboral de los trabajadores como su intención de abandono (AU)

Does employee recognition affect positive psychological functioning and well-being?

Employee recognition is one of the typical characteristics of healthy organizations. The majority of research on recognition has studied the consequences of this variable on workers. But few investigations have focused on understanding what mechanisms mediate between recognition and its consequences. This work aims to understand whether the relationship between employee recognition and well-being, psychological resources mediate. To answer this question a sample of 1831 workers was used. The variables measured were: employee recognition, subjective well-being and positive psychological functioning (PPF), which consists of 11 psychological resources. In the analysis of data, structural equation models were applied. The results confirmed our hypothesis and showed that PPF mediate the relationship between recognition and well-being. The effect of recognition over PPF is two times greater (.39) with peer-recognition than with supervisor-recognition (.20), and, the effect of PPF over well-being is .59. This study highlights the importance of promoting employee recognition policies in organizations for the impact it has, not only on well-being, but also on the ositive psychological functioning of the workers (AU)

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Development and validation of the occupational hardiness questionnaire / Desarrollo y validación del Cuestionario Ocupacional de Resistencia

BACKGROUND: One of the most traditional approaches to the positive study of personality has been the research on Hardiness or Hardy Personality. However, studies about this construct have systematically suffered from a lack of sufficient psychometric guarantees of the measures. METHOD: This paper presents the Occupational Hardiness Questionnaire (OHQ), the result of a research line on the subject and its measurement with a total sample of 1,647 participants. RESULTS: Four studies show the results of exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), consistency, temporal reliability and construct validity. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that the OHQ has satisfactory psychometric characteristics and can be used in the study of Occupational Health and in the area of Positive Personality

ANTECEDENTES: uno de los enfoques más clásicos en el estudio positivo de la personalidad ha sido la investigación acerca de Hardiness o Personalidad Resistente. Sin embargo, los estudios con el constructo han adolecido sistemáticamente de falta de medidas con suficientes garantías psicométricas. MÉTODO: en este trabajo se presenta el Cuestionario de Resistencia Laboral (CRL), resultado de una línea de investigación sobre el tema y su medida con una muestra total de 1.647 participantes. RESULTADOS: se presentan los resultados en cuatro estudios en los que se indican los resultados del análisis factorial exploratorio (AFE), análisis factorial confirmatorio (AFC), consistencia, fiabilidad temporal y validez de constructo. CONCLUSIONES: los resultados encontrados indican que el CRL tiene características psicométricas satisfactorias y que puede utilizarse tanto en el estudio de la salud laboral como en el enfoque de la personalidad positiva

Predictors of burnout among nurses: An interactionist approach / Predictores de Burnout en enfermeras: un enfoque interaccionista

Background: Nurses’ practice involves working in complex organizational settings and facing multiple stressors over time that can lead to burnout. This study aimed to identify predictors of burnout among nurses working in hospitals. Method: A sample of 1,157 participants from four hospitals in the city of Porto (Portugal) was investigated (78% women, mean age = 34.7 years) using socio-demographic and work variable questionnaires, the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI-HSS), Personal Views Survey (PVS), Job Satisfaction Scale (S20/23), and Survey Work-Home Interaction - NijmeGen (SWING). Results: Multiple linear hierarchical regression analyses (stepwise method) showed that gender, age, years of experience at work, working in more than one institution, being involved in management positions, job satisfaction, hardiness, and experience of work-home and home-work interaction, seem to be predictors of burnout among nurses. Conclusions: This study adds support to the interactionist approach to burnout. In other words, it is crucial to investigate the relationship between several factors such as socio-demographic, work, and personality factors to understand burnout. Additionally, these findings should be taken into account when designing burnout prevention programs for nurses working in hospitals (AU)

Antecedentes: la práctica de enfermería implica trabajar en organizaciones complejas y enfrentar estresores múltiples que pueden llevar al síndrome de quemarse por el trabajo (burnout). El presente estudio pretende identificar predictores del burnout en enfermeras que trabajan en hospitales. Método: la muestra estuvo formada por 1.157 profesionales de enfermería trabajadores de cuatro hospitales de Porto (Portugal), siendo 78% mujeres (media de edad= 34,7 años). Se utilizó un cuestionario para recoger variables sociodemográficas y laborales, Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI-HSS), Personal Views Survey (PVS), Job Satisfaction Scale (S20/23) y Survey Work-Home Interaction - NijmeGen (SWING). Resultados: el análisis de regresión linear jerárquica múltiple (stepwise method) mostró que el género, edad, años de trabajo, trabajar en más de una institución, participar en puestos de dirección, satisfacción laboral, personalidad resistente e interacción trabajo-familia son los principales predictores del burnout entre enfermeras. Conclusiones: este estudio apoya el enfoque interaccionista del burnout, siendo importante investigar la relación entre los factores sociodemográficos, laborales y de la personalidad para entender mejor el burnout. Además, estos resultados deben tenerse en cuenta para el diseño de programas de prevención de burnout para las enfermeras que trabajan en hospitales (AU)

¿Es el liderazgo transformacional determinante en la motivación intrínseca de los seguidores? / Is transformational leadership determinant of intrinsic motivation of followers?

El liderazgo transformacional (LT) destaca, en su formulación teórica, por su influencia sobre la motivación. Sin embargo, los estudios empíricos han considerado la motivación como un constructo general y no de forma integrada, distinguiendo distintos constructos motivacionales. Este estudio empírico analiza la influencia del LT sobre la motivación intrínseca esperada (MIEs) basada en el modelo ASH-Mot. Para ello se tomó una muestra de 575 empleados correspondientes a dos organizaciones españolas a quienes se aplicaron los cuestionarios ASH-Mot y ASH-Lid (este último basado en el Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire, MLQ). Los análisis de modelos de ecuaciones estructurales muestran apoyo empírico a la relación entre LT y la MIEs. También los resultados muestran apoyo empírico a la mediación de la instrumentalidad entre el LT y la MIEs. Por otra parte, el análisis multi-grupo con modelos de ecuaciones estructurales muestra la invarianza del modelo, poniendo en evidencia la robustez del modelo postulado(AU)

In the theoretical formul ation of transformational leadership (TL), its influence on motivation stands out. However, empirical studies have considered motivation as a general construct but have not distinguished different motivational constructs. This empirical study analyzes the influence of TL on Expected Intrinsic Motivation (EIM) based on the ASH-Mot model. A sample of 575 employees from two Spanish organizations was chosen. Two questionnaires were applied, ASH-Mot and ASH-Lid, the latter based on the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ). The Structural Equation Modeling shows empirical support for the relationship between TL and EIM. Results also show empirical support for the mediation of instrumentality between TL and EIM. Moreover, the multiple-group analysis showed the invariance of the model across samples, thereby highlighting the robustness of the hypothesized model(AU)

Development and validation of an abridged measure of organizational justice.

In this 3-Study article, the authors present an abridged version of Colquitt's (2001) 20-item measure of organizational justice. In Study 1, using a sample of 278 undergraduate students, they applied a systematic scale-reduction technique to determine which items should remain in the abridged scale. In Study 2 and 3, using two separate field samples (N = 173, N = 517; respectively) they provide construct, convergent, and discriminant validity evidence in support of the abridged scale. Their results provide evidence that the abridged version of Colquitt's measure maintains the psychometric quality of the original full scale and, therefore, can be used in its place.

Test publishers' perspective on "an updated meta-analysis": comment on Van Iddekinge, Roth, Raymark, and Odle-Dusseau (2012).

Van Iddekinge, Roth, Raymark, and Odle-Dusseau's (2012) meta-analysis of pre-employment integrity test results confirmed that such tests are meaningfully related to counterproductive work behavior. The article also offered some cautionary conclusions, which appear to stem from the limited scope of the authors' focus and the specific research procedures used. Issues discussed in this commentary include the following: (a) test publishers' provision of studies for meta-analytic consideration; (b) errors and questions in the coding of statistics from past studies; (c) debatable corrections for unreliable criterion measures; (d) exclusion of laboratory, contrasted-groups, unit-level, and time-series studies of counterproductive behavior; (e) under-emphasis on the prediction of counterproductive workplace behaviors compared with job performance, training outcomes, and turnover; (f) overlooking the industry practice of deploying integrity scales with other valid predictors of employee outcomes; (g) implication that integrity test publishers produce biased research results; (h) incomplete presentation of integrity tests' resistance to faking; and (i) omission of data indicating applicants' favorable response to integrity tests, the tests' lack of adverse impact, and the positive business impact of integrity testing. This commentary, therefore, offers an alternate perspective, addresses omissions and apparent inaccuracies, and urges a return to the use of diverse methodologies to evaluate the validity of integrity tests and other psychometric instruments.

Integrity tests predict counterproductive work behaviors and job performance well: comment on Van Iddekinge, Roth, Raymark, and Odle-Dusseau (2012).

Examination of the Van Iddekinge, Roth, Raymark, and Odle-Dusseau (2012) meta-analysis reveals a number of problems. They meta-analyzed a partial database of integrity test validities. An examination of their coded database revealed that measures coded as integrity tests and meta-analyzed as such often included scales that are not in fact integrity tests. In addition, there were important deficiencies in their analytic approach relating to application of range restriction corrections and identification of moderators. We found the absence of fully hierarchical moderator analyses to be a serious weakness. We also explain why empirical comparisons between test publishers versus non-publishers cannot unambiguously lead to inferences of bias, as alternate explanations are possible, even likely. In light of the problems identified, it appears that the conclusions about integrity test validity drawn by Van Iddekinge et al. cannot be considered accurate or reliable.

On reconciling conflicting meta-analytic findings regarding integrity test validity.

We react to the Van Iddekinge, Roth, Raymark, and Odle-Dusseau (2012a) meta-analysis of the relationship between integrity test scores and work-related criteria, the earlier Ones, Viswesvaran, and Schmidt (1993) meta-analysis of those relationships, the Harris et al. (2012) and Ones, Viswesvaran, and Schmidt (2012) responses, and the Van Iddekinge, Roth, Raymark, and Odle-Dusseau (2012b) rebuttal. We highlight differences between the findings of the 2 meta-analyses by focusing on studies that used predictive designs, applicant samples, and non-self-report criteria. We conclude that study exclusion criteria, correction for artifacts, and second order sampling error are not likely explanations for the differences in findings. The lack of detailed documentation of all effect size estimates used in either meta-analysis makes it impossible to ascertain the bases for the differences in findings. We call for increased detail in meta-analytic reporting and for better information sharing among the parties producing and meta-analytically integrating validity evidence.

The criterion-related validity of integrity tests: an updated meta-analysis.

Integrity tests have become a prominent predictor within the selection literature over the past few decades. However, some researchers have expressed concerns about the criterion-related validity evidence for such tests because of a perceived lack of methodological rigor within this literature, as well as a heavy reliance on unpublished data from test publishers. In response to these concerns, we meta-analyzed 104 studies (representing 134 independent samples), which were authored by a similar proportion of test publishers and non-publishers, whose conduct was consistent with professional standards for test validation, and whose results were relevant to the validity of integrity-specific scales for predicting individual work behavior. Overall mean observed validity estimates and validity estimates corrected for unreliability in the criterion (respectively) were .12 and .15 for job performance, .13 and .16 for training performance, .26 and .32 for counterproductive work behavior, and .07 and .09 for turnover. Although data on restriction of range were sparse, illustrative corrections for indirect range restriction did increase validities slightly (e.g., from .15 to .18 for job performance). Several variables appeared to moderate relations between integrity tests and the criteria. For example, corrected validities for job performance criteria were larger when based on studies authored by integrity test publishers (.27) than when based on studies from non-publishers (.12). In addition, corrected validities for counterproductive work behavior criteria were larger when based on self-reports (.42) than when based on other-reports (.11) or employee records (.15).

Adaptação do questionário sobre significados do trabalho - QST - para o Brasil / Adaptation of the questionnaire on means of work in Brazil

Este artigo discorre sobre o processo de adaptação do Questionário sobre Significados do Trabalho - QST - no Brasil. Este instrumento se constitui de dois inventários e quatro escalas com fatores relacionados a significados, percepções, atribuições, valores e atitudes com relação ao ato de trabalhar. Os procedimentos metodológicos para a validação deste instrumento consistiram nas etapas de revisão e sistematização das bases teórico-empíricas sobre as quais se constrói a versão original do QST, a administração do instrumento piloto e o pré-teste da versão adaptada em um total de 680 pessoas. Participaram deste processo adultos jovens, dos sexos masculino e feminino, de categorias de trabalho heterogêneas e diferentes níveis de formação acadêmica e de renda. Os dados psicométricos do instrumento apresentam alta consistência interna para o total dos itens dos inventários e escalas, e evidenciam que a versão em português do QST mostra-se adequada à administração no contexto brasileiro.(AU)

This article presents the process of adaptation of the Questionnaire on Means of Work - QMOW in Brazil. This instrument is integrated by two inventories and four scales about significance, perceptions, assignments, values and attitudes concerning the act of working. The methodological procedure to validated the instrument is constituted by following stages: systematization of theoretical and empirical basis on which is built the QMOW original version, the pilot instrument administration and the pre-test by the adapted version, including 680 people, with predominantly young adults, of the masculine and feminine sexes, from different work backgrounds and different degrees of schooling and income levels. The psychometrics data obtained from the instrument has shown a high internal consistency to the total of items of the inventories and scales and it has evidenced that QMOW Portuguese version is appropriate for administration in a Brazilian context.(AU)

Adaptação do questionário sobre significados do trabalho - QST - para o Brasil / Adaptation of the questionnaire on means of work in Brazil

Este artigo discorre sobre o processo de adaptação do Questionário sobre Significados do Trabalho - QST - no Brasil. Este instrumento se constitui de dois inventários e quatro escalas com fatores relacionados a significados, percepções, atribuições, valores e atitudes com relação ao ato de trabalhar. Os procedimentos metodológicos para a validação deste instrumento consistiram nas etapas de revisão e sistematização das bases teórico-empíricas sobre as quais se constrói a versão original do QST, a administração do instrumento piloto e o pré-teste da versão adaptada em um total de 680 pessoas. Participaram deste processo adultos jovens, dos sexos masculino e feminino, de categorias de trabalho heterogêneas e diferentes níveis de formação acadêmica e de renda. Os dados psicométricos do instrumento apresentam alta consistência interna para o total dos itens dos inventários e escalas, e evidenciam que a versão em português do QST mostra-se adequada à administração no contexto brasileiro.

This article presents the process of adaptation of the Questionnaire on Means of Work - QMOW in Brazil. This instrument is integrated by two inventories and four scales about significance, perceptions, assignments, values and attitudes concerning the act of working. The methodological procedure to validated the instrument is constituted by following stages: systematization of theoretical and empirical basis on which is built the QMOW original version, the pilot instrument administration and the pre-test by the adapted version, including 680 people, with predominantly young adults, of the masculine and feminine sexes, from different work backgrounds and different degrees of schooling and income levels. The psychometrics data obtained from the instrument has shown a high internal consistency to the total of items of the inventories and scales and it has evidenced that QMOW Portuguese version is appropriate for administration in a Brazilian context.

Métodos de escalamiento aplicados a la priorización de necesidades de formación en organizaciones / Scaling methods applied to set priorities in training programs in organizations

Los criterios para priorizar las necesidades que justifican las acciones formativas a implantar no se suelen explicitar a priori en los programas de formación continua en contextos organizacionales. En este trabajo se proponen los métodos de escalamiento como procedimiento factible y útil para identificar criterios explícitos de priorización de necesidades, y se concreta cuál de ellos es más apropiado en este contexto de intervención. 404 empleados de una organización pública cumplimentaron un cuestionario ad hoc para priorizar necesidades formativas en diferentes áreas durante el período 2004 al 2006; concretamente, se ordenaron 117, 75 y 286 estímulos, respectivamente. Se calcularon y compararon las ordenaciones obtenidas con cuatro métodos de escalamiento: el método de Dunn-Rankin y tres métodos derivados de la Ley del Juicio Categórico de Thurstone, concretamente ordenación por rangos, intervalos sucesivos e intervalos aparentemente iguales. Con los resultados, se constata la factibilidad y utilidad de estos métodos de escalamiento para la solución de los problemas planteados; a partir delos métodos más precisos, se propone el uso del método de ordenación por rangos por su parsimonia (respecto a sencillez en su procedimiento); y se anticipan futuras líneas de actuación (AU)

Criteria to assess the needs in order to plan training programs are not usually defined explicitly in organizational contexts.We propose scaling methods as a feasible and useful procedure to set priorities of training programs; also, we propose the most suitable method for this intervention context. 404 employees from a public organization completed an ad hoc questionnaire to assess training needs in different areas from 2004 to 2006; concretely, 117, 75 and 286 stimuli were scaled, respectively. Then, four scaling methods were compared: Dunn-Rankin’s method and three methods derived from Thurstone’s Law of Categorical Judgment -ranking, successive intervals and equal-appearing intervals. The feasibility and utility of these scaling methods to solve the problems described is shown. Taking into account the most accurate compared methods, we propose ranking as the most parsimonious method (with regard to procedures implicity). Future research developments are described (AU)

Screening older, blue-collar workers for drinking problems: an assessment of the efficacy of the drinking problems index.

The authors examine the performance of the Drinking Problems Index (DPI) as a screening instrument for the identification of drinking problems among older blue-collar workers. Performance was assessed using a random sample of 1055 retirement-eligible blue-collar workers with the CAGE as a problem-drinking criterion. The authors also assessed the relative performance of the DPI versus the CAGE on the basis of each instrument's sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) with regard to other alcohol-related criteria. DPI was found to offer reasonable levels of sensitivity and specificity, although its sensitivity varied by age. Moreover, for older, blue-collar workers, the DPI was found to more effectively screen for problematic patterns of alcohol consumption than the CAGE.

The Job Stress Survey: assessing perceived severity and frequency of occurrence of generic sources of stress in the workplace.

In this article, the authors respond to comments in the October 1998 issue of the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology (Vol. 3, No. 4) in regard to measuring occupational stress with the Job Stress Survey (JSS). The authors are pleased that (a) the need to assess the perceived severity and frequency of occurrence of specific sources of occupational stress was acknowledged and (b) job pressure and lack of organizational support were recognized as key dimensions of stress in the workplace. In addressing concerns about the independence of JSS severity and frequency ratings and the utility of the JSS for assessing jobs with extensive person-machine interactions, the authors noted that correlations among JSS severity and frequency scores were relatively low, and that person-focused stressor items were relevant for employees with person-machine jobs because most workers are required to deal with supervisors and fellow employees. It was concluded that the JSS provides important information about sources of occupational stress that can adversely affect the health and productivity of men and women employed in a wide variety of work settings.