Premium
A COMPARISON OF UNIT, SUBJECTIVE, AND REGRESSION MEASURES OF SECOND‐LEVEL VALENCES IN EXPECTANCY THEORY
Author(s) -
Stahl Michael J.,
Grigsby David W.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
decision sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.238
H-Index - 108
eISSN - 1540-5915
pISSN - 0011-7315
DOI - 10.1111/j.1540-5915.1987.tb01503.x
Subject(s) - expectancy theory , preference , psychology , unit (ring theory) , linear regression , regression analysis , reliability (semiconductor) , social psychology , likert scale , statistics , association (psychology) , mathematics , power (physics) , physics , mathematics education , quantum mechanics , psychotherapist
Two different decision‐making exercises are compared with unit weights and with traditional Likert scales as measures of second‐level valences in expectancy theory. Second‐level valences are measured across different levels of outcomes in each exercise and compared to the traditional subjective‐ and unit‐weight measures. In the first experiment, the job‐preference decisions of 21 undergraduates are examined using a decision‐making exercise involving 24 hypothetical jobs described in terms of three intrinsic instrumentalities at two levels. In the second experiment, a different 21 undergraduates make job‐preference decisions in a decision‐making exercise involving 27 hypothetical jobs described in terms of three extrinsic instrumentalities at three levels. The β‐weight (standardized regression coefficient) measures of the second‐level valences are found to be more powerful predictors of job‐preference decisions than either subjective‐weight or unit‐weight measures, both before and after shrinkage. They also had higher cross validations, exhibited higher test‐retest reliability, and allowed testing of a quadratic motivational effect in the three‐level exercise.