Work Engagement Scale: Construct Validity and Reliability in the Colombian Organizational Context

Abstract

This manuscript shows the results of the evidence of content and internal structure obtained from an instrument to measure work engagement. This instrument is aimed at workers of Colombian labor organizations that belong to different economic sectors (commerce, services, education, and health). The instrument was designed based on the postulates of cognitive theory and is structured into three factors that operationalize the construct: (a) behavioral dimension (15 items), (b) affective dimension (16 items), and (c) cognitive dimension (14 items), for a total of 45 items. The results of the content evidence through expert judgment suggested the elimination of three items, due to ambiguity and lack of clarity, leaving the 42- item test. After this evidence, the instrument was piloted in a sample of 460 participants. The item-test correlation analysis recommended the elimination ofone item due to its low correlation with the factor. The evidence of internal structure through exploratory factor analysis (EFA) proposed a three-factor structure, with an explained variance of 63%; 9 items were eliminated due to high residual.The fit indicators showed a GFI = .99; and those of residual showed a RMSR =.03 and Kelley = .04; each factor obtained an ordinal Cronbach’s Alpha of .95 (behavioral), .97 (affective), and .87 (cognitive). These results indicate precision in the measurement and consistency of the items to measure each of the factors.