Validation of the PCQ-5: A Short Form to Measure State Positive Psychological Capital

Abstract

Positive psychological capital (PsyCap) is a key measure of workplace positivity, yet its organizational impact may be somewhat limited by current measurement practices. Given its state-like and malleable nature, organizations need accurate yet brief measures to allow for repeated measurement of PsyCap. A very short PsyCap instrument could be used in various ways by organizations to measure and track employee positivity, thus enabling management to make decisions with more insight. Similarly, for researchers, a much shorter scale could dramatically improve research efficiency and response rate, opening up new perspectives in PsyCap research. In this paper, initial evidence is provided for the validity of a short PsyCap measure across multiple samples of working adult populations ( N = 1331 in total) from four different countries (United States, China, Germany, and Hungary). Consistent with prior research, we propose a five-item PsyCap measure, the PCQ-5, consisting of one item from the dimensions of self-efficacy, resilience, and optimism and one item for each facet of the hope dimension (agency and pathways). The proposed PCQ-5 shows internal consistency reliability and good fit for a single factor global PsyCap model across all samples. Moreover, like the PCQ-24, the PCQ-5 is associated with meaningful workplace outcomes such as job performance, job satisfaction, OCBs, voice, and helping behaviors, and it is negatively related to deviant behaviors like CWBs.

The Super-Short Form of Career Adapt-Abilities Scale: Cross-Cultural Validation in China and the United Kingdom

“…Last, given that currently there is no unified approach for shortening composite measures (Martín-Fernández et al, 2022), this study could make a valuable contribution by providing a systematic procedure to generate super-short measures. Following previous guidelines (Hinkin, 1998;Smith et al, 2000;Stanton et al, 2002) and examples of constructing super-short scales (e.g., Maggiori et al, 2017;Martín-Fernández et al, 2022;Szerdahelyi et al, 2022;West et al, 2021), this study demonstrates the procedure of shortening the full scale to super-short form, which combines qualitative (i.e., content validity analysis) and quantitative (psychometric analysis) methods (Martín-Fernández et al, 2022). Besides, this study presents a series of analyses concerning how to validate the super-short scale, ensuring the reliability and validity of the new scale.…”

“…Nowadays, the super-short form of scales are becoming more and more popular in research due to its convenience and efficiency (Sleep et al, 2021), with a number of scholars have dedicated effort to shorten scales for various constructs, for example narcissism (West et al, 2021), work engagement (Schaufeli et al, 2019), and psychological capital (Szerdahelyi et al, 2022). To facilitate future research on career adaptability, this study endeavors to validate the super-short scale for career adaptability (i.e., the CAAS-SSF).…”

“…The CAAS-SSF could further conserve resources, reduce respondents’ reluctance and fatigue to complete the survey, and improve the response quality (Schaufeli et al, 2019). It will especially be beneficial for studies with successive repeated measurement or complicated models (Szerdahelyi et al, 2022). Many studies that require consecutive measurement of variables, such as those utilizing experience sampling methodologies (ESM), often employ extremely short scales or even single items (e.g., Ayoko et al, 2023; Siebers et al, 2022), which help avoid participants’ boredom and increase response rate (Szerdahelyi et al, 2022).…”

“…It will especially be beneficial for studies with successive repeated measurement or complicated models (Szerdahelyi et al, 2022). Many studies that require consecutive measurement of variables, such as those utilizing experience sampling methodologies (ESM), often employ extremely short scales or even single items (e.g., Ayoko et al, 2023; Siebers et al, 2022), which help avoid participants’ boredom and increase response rate (Szerdahelyi et al, 2022). Super-short scales would also significantly benefit studies designed with complex models and multiple variables, since fewer questions reduce the likelihood of refusing to participate and save research sources (Schaufeli et al, 2019).…”

“…Therefore, this study intends to introduce and validate the super-short form of the CAAS through two studies, following guidelines for scale development and reduction (Hinkin, 1998; Smith et al, 2000; Stanton et al, 2002) and examples of constructing super-short scales (e.g., Maggiori et al, 2017; Martín-Fernández et al, 2022; Szerdahelyi et al, 2022; West et al, 2021). Study 1 is designed to adapt the full-length scale to the super-short form of the CAAS (CAAS-SSF), using data collected from Chinese samples.…”