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Journal of Happiness Studies
Erschienen in: Journal of Happiness Studies 2/2013

01.04.2013 | Research Paper

Measuring Optimism in Organizations: Development of a Workplace Explanatory Style Questionnaire

verfasst von: Paul Smith, Peter Caputi, Nadia Crittenden

Erschienen in: Journal of Happiness Studies | Ausgabe 2/2013

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Abstract

Some researchers measure optimism by analysing explanations for hypothetical scenarios in explanatory style questionnaires. The most commonly used instrument, the Attributional Style Questionnaire (ASQ), has been shown to predict success in business, education and sport. However, these predictions were achieved by using composite scores of subscales. Our analysis of 15 measures revealed the ASQ and many other explanatory style questionnaires have low internal consistency. Furthermore, the majority of these measures use situations that have poor face validity for corporate applications, while some work-specific scenarios are only relevant to narrow domains such as selling insurance. To fulfil the need for a work-related explanatory style measure that could assess levels of optimism in any organizational setting, we developed the Workplace Explanations Survey (WES). This 5-factor measure was tested on a sample of 341 individuals working in a range of organizations and it has good internal consistency. We anticipate the WES will stimulate research into workplace optimism and provide clearer insights for optimism training, thus boosting both individual and organizational success.
Vorheriger Artikel Correlates of Happiness Among Older Spanish Institutionalised and Non-Institutionalised Adults
Nächster Artikel The Gold of One’s Ring is Not Far More Precious than the Gold of One’s Heart: Reported Life Satisfaction Among Married and Cohabitating South African Adults

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Metadaten
Titel
Measuring Optimism in Organizations: Development of a Workplace Explanatory Style Questionnaire
verfasst von
Paul Smith
Peter Caputi
Nadia Crittenden
Publikationsdatum
01.04.2013
Verlag
Springer Netherlands
Erschienen in
Journal of Happiness Studies / Ausgabe 2/2013
Print ISSN: 1389-4978
Elektronische ISSN: 1573-7780
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-012-9336-4

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