Competitiveness Reconceptualized: Psychometric Development of the Competitiveness Orientation Measure as a Unified Measure of Trait Competitiveness

Despite the utility of examining competitiveness across different contexts, current competitiveness scales lack the ability to unify trait competitiveness into one comprehensive measure. The goal of the present study was to construct one, psychometrically sound, multidimensional scale that would ser...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe Psychological record Vol. 64; no. 4; pp. 879 - 895
Main Authors Newby, Jennifer L., Klein, Rupert G.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Cham Springer International Publishing 01.12.2014
Springer Nature B.V
Subjects
Academic Achievement
Behavior
Behavioral Science and Psychology
Competition
Construct Validity
Definitions
Factor Analysis
Individual Differences
Item Analysis
Likert Scales
Meta Analysis
Original Article
Personality
Personality Measures
Personality traits
Psychological Characteristics
Psychology
Psychometrics
Questionnaires
Statistical methods
Studies
Success
Validity
Human competition
Achievement orientation
Competitiveness
Individual differences
Dominance
Personality
Trait
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Summary:Despite the utility of examining competitiveness across different contexts, current competitiveness scales lack the ability to unify trait competitiveness into one comprehensive measure. The goal of the present study was to construct one, psychometrically sound, multidimensional scale that would serve to correctly and concisely measure competitiveness tendencies across situational contexts. The present study synthesizes previous research by defining four dimensions of competitiveness: general competitiveness, dominance, competitive affectivity, and personal enhancement. The initial pool of 137 items for the newly developed Competitiveness Orientation Measure was tested in a sample of 886 participants. Item-total correlations, discrimination indices, and factor analysis procedures resulted in the retention of 37 final items with excellent reliability. Theoretically, the Competitiveness Orientation Measure is the first comprehensive, psychometrically valid scale that adequately captures individual differences in competitiveness across four theoretically supported dimensions. Preliminary construct validity was additionally demonstrated, suggesting that competitiveness may serve to differentiate competitors’ success.
ISSN:0033-2933
2163-3452
DOI:10.1007/s40732-014-0083-2