Management Science University, Malaysia

EFFECTS OF PERSONAL VALUES ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN

PARTICIPATION AND JOB ATTITUDES

by

Abdullah Zakariyya (320012017070001)

A project work on reliability of constructs used in determining the “effects of personal values on the
relationship between participation and job attitudes”

Submitted to the Graduate School of Management

of the Management Science University
in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements
of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Business and Management

JUNE 28, 2018

1
Introduction

The aim of this project is to determine the validity of items used in a questionnaire regarding job
involvement, participation in decision making and career salience of 35 employees. The three dimensions
are assessed using a survey questionnaire with four sections. The first section is on job involvement (JI)
and consisted 9 items (JI1 through JI9), the second section was on participation in decision making
(PDM) and consisted 5 items (PDM1 through PDM5), the third section was on career salience (CS) and
consisted 7 items (CS1 through CS7). The fourth and final section collected some demographic data
from the participants of the survey.

Sampling

A total of 100 questionnaires were distributed amongst the staff or Maldives Inland Revenue Authority
(MIRA) and Capital Market Development Authority(CMDA) and students of MAPS College who are
employed. Of the 100 questionnaires handed, 77 were answered completely without any missing
responses. After data cleaning, using the method of row-wise deletion, due to contradictory responses
and selection of a single rating for sections of the questionnaire, the number of usable responses reduced
to 35 (46% of the respondents).

Reliability of Constructs

Constructs must satisfy discriminant validity and convergent validity. Discriminant validity ensures each
item is unique and convergent validity ensures that each item in a group has a moderate level of positive
correlation thereby asserting the item belongs to the construct. Cronbach’s  (hereafter referred to as
) is used to determine the reliability of constructs used.

Job Involvement (JI)

JI had an  of 0.775 (Table 1) with highest Inter-Item Correlations in each column between 0.3 and 0.9
(Table 2). However, the Corrected Item Total Correlation (CITC) for JI5 and JI7 are below the minimum
of 0.3 (Table 3). Hence, JI5 and JI7 were dropped and validity test was run for JIs without JI5 and JI7,
resulting in an improved  of 0.832 (Table 4).

2
Reliability Statistics
Cronbach's Alpha Cronbach's Alpha N of Items
Based on
Standardized Items

.775 .794 9

Table 1: Job Involvement - Cronbach's Alpha

Inter-Item Correlation Matrix

JI 1 JI 2 JI 3 JI 4 JI 5 JI 6 JI 7 JI 8 JI 9

JI 1 1.000 .287 .301 .660 .120 .281 -.007 .189 .457

JI 2 .287 1.000 .427 .519 .306 .435 -.013 .367 .570

JI 3 .301 .427 1.000 .421 .120 .479 .058 .419 .507

JI 4 .660 .519 .421 1.000 .234 .552 -.072 .483 .550

JI 5 .120 .306 .120 .234 1.000 .306 .057 .054 .119

JI 6 .281 .435 .479 .552 .306 1.000 -.098 .456 .279

JI 7 -.007 -.013 .058 -.072 .057 -.098 1.000 .307 .151

JI 8 .189 .367 .419 .483 .054 .456 .307 1.000 .525

JI 9 .457 .570 .507 .550 .119 .279 .151 .525 1.000

Table 2: Job Involvement - Inter-Item Correlation Matrix

Item-Total Statistics
Scale Mean if Scale Variance if Corrected Item- Squared Multiple Cronbach's
Item Deleted Item Deleted Total Correlation Correlation Alpha if Item
Deleted
JI 1 28.94 20.820 .470 .512 .752
JI 2 30.03 19.029 .596 .464 .731
JI 3 28.77 21.417 .550 .390 .748
JI 4 29.54 17.373 .695 .682 .711
JI 5 29.86 21.126 .280 .184 .784
JI 6 29.34 18.055 .544 .506 .741
JI 7 29.40 23.894 .036 .231 .811
JI 8 29.03 21.793 .566 .534 .750
JI 9 29.09 20.139 .623 .576 .734
Table 3: Job Involvement - CITC

3
Reliability Statistics
Cronbach's Alpha Cronbach's Alpha N of Items
Based on
Standardized Items

.832 .834 7

Table 4: Job Involvement - Cronbach's Alpha after dropping JI5 & JI7

Participation in Decision Making (PDM)

The  for PDM is 0.854 (Table 5) with Inter-Item Correlations ranged between 0.381 to 0.737 (Table
6) satisfying both discriminant and convergent validity. The CITCs for PDMs are at least 0.553 (Table
7). Furthermore, the CITCs indicate that dropping none of the individual items will increase . Hence,
all items in the PDM belongs to the construct and measure what it is intended to measure.

Reliability Statistics
Cronbach's Alpha Cronbach's Alpha N of Items
Based on
Standardized
Items

.854 .861 5

Table 5: Participation in Decision Making - Cronbach's Alpha

Inter-Item Correlation Matrix

PDM1 PDM2 PDM3 PDM4 PDM5

PDM1 1.000 .647 .572 .481 .520

PDM2 .647 1.000 .638 .737 .381

PDM3 .572 .638 1.000 .616 .465

PDM4 .481 .737 .616 1.000 .465

PDM5 .520 .381 .465 .465 1.000

Table 6: Participation in Decision Making – Inter-Item Correlation Matrix

4
Item-Total Statistics

Scale Mean if Scale Variance if Corrected Item- Squared Multiple Cronbach's Alpha
Item Deleted Item Deleted Total Correlation Correlation if Item Deleted

PDM1 14.46 8.844 .677 .533 .824

PDM2 14.14 10.244 .752 .678 .812

PDM3 14.31 9.104 .705 .509 .813

PDM4 14.49 9.492 .696 .612 .816

PDM5 14.03 10.146 .553 .363 .853
Table 7: Participation in Decision Making – CITC

Career Salience (CS)

The  for CS calculated initially was 0.427 (Table 8), with some of the Inter-Item Correlations in the
negative (Table 9). The  value is well below the minimum required  of 0.7. The CITCs for CSs were
above 0.3 with the exception of items CS2, CS4 and CS6 (Table 10). The negative CITC for items CS4
and CS6 were due to the wordings being negative with respect to all the other items. To test this, CS4
and CS6 were recoded with Likert Scale reversed, resulting in  of 0.759 (Table 11). It further shows
that no improvements will be made on  by removing any of the items that were re-coded (Table 12).

Reliability Statistics
Cronbach's Alpha Cronbach's Alpha Based N of Items
on Standardized Items

.427 .527 7

Table 8: Career Salience - Cronbach's Alpha (without re-coding of negative items)

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Inter-Item Correlation Matrix
CS1 CS2 CS3 CS4 CS5 CS6 CS7

CS1 1.000 .422 .456 -.343 .757 -.200 .470

CS2 .422 1.000 .417 -.298 .330 -.394 .364

CS3 .456 .417 1.000 -.197 .430 -.198 .290

CS4 -.343 -.298 -.197 1.000 -.270 .568 -.034

CS5 .757 .330 .430 -.270 1.000 -.169 .400

CS6 -.200 -.394 -.198 .568 -.169 1.000 .085

CS7 .470 .364 .290 -.034 .400 .085 1.000

Table 9: Career Salience - Inter-Item Correlation Matrix

Item-Total Statistics

Scale Mean if Scale Variance if Corrected Item- Squared Multiple Cronbach's

Item Deleted Item Deleted Total Correlation Correlation Alpha if Item
Deleted
CS1 26.77 17.064 .460 .648 .267
CS2 26.97 19.970 .172 .380 .401
CS3 27.29 19.151 .339 .287 .340
CS4 29.29 22.151 -.134 .379 .597
CS5 27.54 15.020 .381 .585 .266
CS6 29.97 21.146 -.014 .422 .499
CS7 26.74 17.491 .510 .331 .265
Table 10: Career Salience - CITC

Reliability Statistics
Cronbach's Alpha Cronbach's Alpha Based N of Items
on Standardized Items

.759 .775 7

Table 11: Career Salience - Cronbach's Alpha (after re-coding of negative items)

6
Item-Total Statistics

Scale Mean if Scale Variance if Corrected Item- Squared Multiple Cronbach's

Item Deleted Item Deleted Total Correlation Correlation Alpha if Item
Deleted
CS1 31.5714 31.252 .689 .648 .691
CS2 31.7714 33.123 .549 .380 .718
CS3 32.0857 35.316 .483 .287 .734
CS5 32.3429 28.526 .571 .585 .708
CS7 31.5429 36.903 .328 .331 .757
CS4 Recoded 32.3714 29.476 .447 .379 .747
CS6 Recoded 31.6857 32.928 .393 .422 .750
Table 12: Career Salience - CITC (after re-coding of CS4 and CS6)

Summary and Conclusion

The constructs in the effects of personal values on the relationship between participation and job attitudes
are tested for reliability. Two items from JI needed to be dropped while no items from PDM needed to
be dropped or merged. Two items from CS were re-coded due to negative wording, resulting in the
required level of . The results are summarised below (Table 13).

Summary Table for Reliability Test

Number of items

Construct Initial Final Cronbach's

Job Involvement 9 7 0.832

Participation in Decision Making 5 5 0.852

Career Salience 7 5 0.787*

Table 13: Summary Table for Cronbach's Alpha

* Recoding with all seven items gives Cronbach’s of 0.759.

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Appendix 1 – Original Questionnaire
Job Involvement, Participation in Decision Making and Career Salience Survey
My name is Abdullah Zakariyya and I am carrying out as an assessment task for the Research Methods course of Doctor of
Philosophy in Business and Management at Management Science University, Malaysia.
The purpose of this study is to determine the level of job involvement, participation and career salience of employees.
General Instructions
 Your participation in this survey is completely voluntary.
 Your responses will be confidential and only used for the purpose of this study.
 Please read each item carefully and give the most appropriate response to your circumstances.

Section A – Job Involvement (measured on a scale of 1-5, from strongly disagree to strongly agree).

Circle the number that represents your situation the best. There are no right or wrong answers. Please answer every
question.

Neither
Agree
Strongly nor Strongly
Disagree Disagree Disagree Agree Agree
1. My job means a lot more to me than just 1 2 3 4 5
money.

2. The major satisfaction in my life comes 1 2 3 4 5

from my job.

3. I am really interested in my work. 1 2 3 4 5

4. I would probably keep working even if I 1 2 3 4 5

didn’t need the money.

5. The most important things that happened to 1 2 3 4 5

me involve my work.

6. I will stay overtime to finish a job, even if I 1 2 3 4 5

am not paid for it.

7. For me, the first few hours at work really 1 2 3 4 5

fly by.

8. I actually enjoy performing the daily 1 2 3 4 5

activities that make up my job.

9. I look forward to coming to work each day. 1 2 3 4 5

8
Section B – Participation in Decision Making (measured on a scale of 1-5, from “not at all” to “to a large extent”).
Circle the number that represents your situation the best. There are no right or wrong answers. Please answer every
question.
To a
Not at Very moderate To a large
all little Somewhat extent extent
1. In general, how much say or influence do 1 2 3 4 5
you have on how you perform your job?

2. To what extent are you able to decide how 1 2 3 4 5

to do your job?
3. In general, how much say or influence do
you have on what goes on in your work 1 2 3 4 5
group?
4. In general, how much say or influence do 1 2 3 4 5
you have on decisions that affect your job?

5. My superiors are receptive and listen to 1 2 3 4 5

my ideas and suggestions.

Section C – Career Salience (measured on a scale of 1-7, from strongly disagree to strongly agree).
Write down the number representing your situation the best. There are no right or wrong answers. Please answer every
question.

Strongly Slightly Slightly Strongly

Disagree Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Agree Agree
1 2 3 4 5 6 7

1. My career choice is a good occupational decision for me. _______

2. My career enables me to make significant contributions to society. _______

3. The career I am in fits me and reflects my personality. _______

4. My education and training are not tailored for this career. _______

5. I don’t intent changing careers. _______

6. All the planning and thought I gave to pursuing this career are a waste. _______

7. My career is an integral part of my life. _______

9
Section D – Background Information.

1. What is your gender?

Male

Female

2. Age: ________ Years

3. Highest qualification you have obtained (Please tick against only the highest qualification).

4. Do you have a full-time or/and part-time job?

Full-time

Part-time

Both Full-time and Part-time

5. For how long have you been employed?

Less than 1 year

1 to less than 2 years

2 to less than 5 years

5 years or more.

Thank you.

Your participation is much appreciated.

10
Appendix 2 – Amended Questionnaire
Job Involvement, Participation in Decision Making and Career Salience Survey
My name is Abdullah Zakariyya and I am carrying out as an assessment task for the Research Methods course of Doctor of
Philosophy in Business and Management at Management Science University, Malaysia.
The purpose of this study is to determine the level of job involvement, participation and career salience of employees.
General Instructions
 Your participation in this survey is completely voluntary.
 Your responses will be confidential and only used for the purpose of this study.
 Please read each item carefully and give the most appropriate response to your circumstances.

Section A – Job Involvement (measured on a scale of 1-5, from strongly disagree to strongly agree).

Circle the number that represents your situation the best. There are no right or wrong answers. Please answer every
question.
Neither
Agree
Strongly nor Strongly
Disagree Disagree Disagree Agree Agree
1. My job means a lot more to me than just 1 2 3 4 5
money.

2. The major satisfaction in my life comes 1 2 3 4 5

from my job.

3. I am really interested in my work. 1 2 3 4 5

4. I would probably keep working even if I 1 2 3 4 5

didn’t need the money.

5. The most important things that happened to 1 2 3 4 5

me involve my work.

6. I will stay overtime to finish a job, even if I 1 2 3 4 5

am not paid for it.

7. For me, the first few hours at work really 1 2 3 4 5

fly by.

8. I actually enjoy performing the daily 1 2 3 4 5

activities that make up my job.

9. I look forward to coming to work each day. 1 2 3 4 5

Items 5 and 7 are to be removed due to low CITC.

11
Section B – Participation in Decision Making (measured on a scale of 1-5, from “not at all” to “to a large extent”).
Circle the number that represents your situation the best. There are no right or wrong answers. Please answer every
question.
To a
Not at Very moderate To a large
all little Somewhat extent extent
1. In general, how much say or influence do 1 2 3 4 5
you have on how you perform your job?

2. To what extent are you able to decide how 1 2 3 4 5

to do your job?
3. In general, how much say or influence do
you have on what goes on in your work 1 2 3 4 5
group?
4. In general, how much say or influence do 1 2 3 4 5
you have on decisions that affect your job?

5. My superiors are receptive and listen to 1 2 3 4 5

my ideas and suggestions.

Section C – Career Salience (measured on a scale of 1-7, from strongly disagree to strongly agree).
Write down the number representing your situation the best. There are no right or wrong answers. Please answer every
question.

Strongly Slightly Slightly Strongly

Disagree Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Agree Agree
1 2 3 4 5 6 7

1. My career choice is a good occupational decision for me. _______

2. My career enables me to make significant contributions to society. _______

3. The career I am in fits me and reflects my personality. _______

4. My education and training are not tailored for this career*. _______

5. I don’t intent changing careers. _______

6. All the planning and thought I gave to pursuing this career are a waste*. _______

7. My career is an integral part of my life. _______

*Items scores are to be recorded in reverse order.

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Section D – Background Information.

1. What is your gender?

Male

Female

2. Age: ________ Years

3. Highest qualification you have obtained (Please tick against only the highest qualification).

4. Do you have a full-time or/and part-time job?

Full-time

Part-time

Both Full-time and Part-time

5. For how long have you been employed?

Less than 1 year

1 to less than 2 years

2 to less than 5 years

5 years or more.

Thank you.

Your participation is much appreciated.

13