TY - JOUR
T1 - Leniency Effects on Convergent and Discriminant Validity for Grouped Questionnaire Items
T2 - A Further Investigation
AU - Schriesheim, Chester A.
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was supported by a grant from the Research Board of the Graduate School of Business Administration at the University of Southern California. 12 1981 41 4 1093 1099 © 1981 SAGE Publications 1981 SAGE Publications
PY - 1981/12
Y1 - 1981/12
N2 - Two previous investigations revealed that grouping (rather than randomizing) questionnaire items measuring similar constructs (in subsections) resulted in impaired discriminant validity (Schrie-sheim and DeNisi, 1980) and that grouping also strengthened the impact of leniency response bias (Schriesheim, 1981). This study reanalyzed the data of the two earlier investigations to determine whether the impairment of the discriminant validity of the grouped questionnaire items might be due to spurious correlations attributable to leniency. The responses of thirty discount store employees to a questionnaire containing grouped items measuring leniency in leader behavior descriptions (Schriesheim, 1980) and four similar constructs from the Leader Behavior Description Questionnaire (Stogdill, 1963) and Four-Factor Theory Questionnaire (Taylor and Bowers, 1972) were examined for convergent and discriminant validity by using a traditional zero-order multitrait-multimethod correlation matrix analysis (Campbell and Fiske, 1959) and by statistically controlling the effect of spurious correlation attributable to leniency (by computing a first-order partial multitrait-multimethod correlation matrix, controlling for leniency as measured by the leniency scale). It was found that controlling for leniency resulted in a slight decrement in convergent validity, but that discriminant validity was substantially improved. Implications for questionnaire validity and further research are discussed.
AB - Two previous investigations revealed that grouping (rather than randomizing) questionnaire items measuring similar constructs (in subsections) resulted in impaired discriminant validity (Schrie-sheim and DeNisi, 1980) and that grouping also strengthened the impact of leniency response bias (Schriesheim, 1981). This study reanalyzed the data of the two earlier investigations to determine whether the impairment of the discriminant validity of the grouped questionnaire items might be due to spurious correlations attributable to leniency. The responses of thirty discount store employees to a questionnaire containing grouped items measuring leniency in leader behavior descriptions (Schriesheim, 1980) and four similar constructs from the Leader Behavior Description Questionnaire (Stogdill, 1963) and Four-Factor Theory Questionnaire (Taylor and Bowers, 1972) were examined for convergent and discriminant validity by using a traditional zero-order multitrait-multimethod correlation matrix analysis (Campbell and Fiske, 1959) and by statistically controlling the effect of spurious correlation attributable to leniency (by computing a first-order partial multitrait-multimethod correlation matrix, controlling for leniency as measured by the leniency scale). It was found that controlling for leniency resulted in a slight decrement in convergent validity, but that discriminant validity was substantially improved. Implications for questionnaire validity and further research are discussed.
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U2 - 10.1177/001316448104100419
DO - 10.1177/001316448104100419
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84936154729
VL - 41
SP - 1093
EP - 1099
JO - Educational and Psychological Measurement
JF - Educational and Psychological Measurement
SN - 0013-1644
IS - 4
ER -