JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT POLICY AND PRACTICE
Examining the Construct Validity of the Lockwood Goal Orientation Scale
Using the General Hierarchal Model: An Exploratory Study
Author(s): Amjad Abu ELSamen
Citation: Amjad Abu ELSamen, (2011) "Examining the Construct Validity of the Lockwood Goal Orientation Scale Using the General Hierarchal Model: An Exploratory Study," Journal of Management Policy and Practice, Vol. 12, Iss. 4, pp. 81 - 93
Article Type: Research paper
Publisher: North American Business Press
Abstract:
The purpose of this research is to examine the psychometric properties of the individual goal orientation construct using the Lockwood, Jordan, and Kunda (2002)18-item scale. After a series of confirmatory factor analyses, a final scale is obtained composed of ten items; five items measure promotion orientation, and five measure prevention orientation. The two dimensions had good discriminant validity. To further test whether promotion and prevention orientations are two dimensions of the same construct or two different constructs, the nomological network for promotion and prevention is investigated using the general hierarchical model (GHM). According to this model, if the promotion and prevention dimensions have different antecedents and consequences, they should be treated as separate constructs. The results support the prediction that goal orientation is in fact two different constructs because the results reveal that the predictors and outcomes of goal orientation are different. For example, three of the antecedent constructs were significant predictors for the prevention orientation construct: introversion, consciousness, and emotional instability. On the other hand, two constructs were significant predictors for the promotion orientation construct: the needs for material resources and for body resources. Research limitations and future research are also discussed.