Refi nement and Further Validation of the Working Excessively Questionnaire (WEQ)

• Authors: Elżbieta Hornowska , Wladyslaw Jacek Paluchowski
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

Research on the fi rst version of the Working Excessively Questionnaire revealed its potential use for assessing the work overload problem. The aim of the present paper is to present the development and the psychometric properties of the second version of the WEQ. The development of WEQ occurred in two main steps. In the fi rst phase, an initial list of 229 items was created. Exploratory and confi rmatory factor analysis on a sample of 1,746 persons revealed an interpretable 78-item, four-factor solution with good internal consistency. We considered practical experience from the use of our questionnaire, particularly the comments from workplace studies where the questionnaire had been used. In the second phase, a total of 2,658 employees aged 17 - 67 completed a questionnaire and a demographics survey. An exploratory factor analysis was accomplished using maximum likelihood extraction with oblimin rotation. A four-factor structure was retained. The four-factor solution explained 34.58% of the variance and provided a good fi t to the data. The fi nal version of the WEQ questionnaire consists of 65 statements. The four factors were Lack Of Control Over Work Scale (LCWS), Perfectionist Working Style Scale (PWSS), General Beliefs About Work Scale (GBWS), and Perceived Oppressiveness Of The Organization Scale (POOS). Each factor contained an adequate number of items and had good internal consistency. The results of this study suggest that the revised WEQ appears to be a psychometrically sound tool for the assessment of the work overload problem.

• Publisher: University of Wrocław, Institute of Psychology and Oficyna Wydawnicza ATUT - Wrocławskie Wydawnictwo Oświatowe
• Journal: Polish Journal of Applied Psychology
• Year: 2013
• Volume: 11
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 31-52

Contributors

author

Elżbieta Hornowska

• Department of Psychology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

author

Wladyslaw Jacek Paluchowski

• Department of Psychology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań