The Measurement of Valuing Diversity: Construction and Use of a New Scale for Work Groups

"The present research was conducted to build a new scale measuring the behavioral constructs of ""valuing diversity"" and to examine the antecedents and resulting outcomes of these behaviors in a team context by testing a conceptual model of work group diversity. The new scale, called Teamwork: Valuing Individual Differences (TVID), was developed using behavioral constructs gleaned from the literature and more specific behavioral examples extracted from interviews with a sample of 96 employees. The TVID scale was pilot tested with two independent samples of 172 and 195 employees to assess the reliability of the scale and the multicultural interpretations of the items in the instrument. After revisions were made to the instrument, the refined TVID scale was administered with a third sample of 211 employees in 27 work teams to examine the factor structure underlying the scale and to investigate the relations among the antecedents and consequences of how individuals value diversity in their work group. The results suggest that the TVID scale measures two dimensions of valuing diversity in work groups: solidarity and individuality. A significant predictor of a work group's favorable climate for individuality was a highly involved team leader; whereas organizational and personal diversity experiences had marginal effects on a work group's climate for individuality. Work teams that had more favorable solidarity climates were more satisfied with their co-workers and had higher levels of team performance, as evaluated by both team leaders/managers and the team members themselves. The dimension of individuality in work groups was also predictive of team performance, but only as evaluated by managers."

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Rand, Kristine Ann

Contributors dc:contributor

• Harry Triandis

• Psychology, Psychometrics

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(MiAaPQ)AAI9834734

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/82237