Reliability and structural validity of an assessment of occupational value

Scand J Occup Ther. 2011 Sep;18(3):231-40. doi: 10.3109/11038128.2010.521948. Epub 2010 Nov 17.

Abstract

This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the American English (Am. Eng.) version of the Occupational Value Assessment with predefined items (OVal-pd). The OVal-pd is a 26-item Likert-like questionnaire designed to assess the construct of occupational value as framed within the Value and Meaning in Occupations model (ValMO). Following a translation from the Swedish OVal-pd, 277 randomly selected graduate and undergraduate students from a public university in the northwestern United Stated completed the Am. Eng. OVal-pd. Test-retest and internal consistency reliability coefficients were very good utilizing an improved 22-item version of the OVal-pd. The structural validity of the 22-item Am. Eng. OVap-pd was partly confirmed through exploratory factor analysis. The scale was found to assess a one-dimensional value construct supporting the ValMO model, consisting of components clearly reflective of self-reward and concrete value. Exploratory factor analysis results were equivocal with regard to the symbolic dimension of the ValMO model as assessed by the OVal-pd. Discussion suggests the refinement of both the OVal-pd and ValMO model in the light of present and related empirical findings.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Employment / psychology*
  • Factor Analysis, Statistical
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Job Satisfaction*
  • Male
  • Models, Psychological
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Personal Satisfaction*
  • Psychometrics
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Surveys and Questionnaires*