TY - JOUR
T1 - Single-item versus multiple-item measurement scales
T2 - An empirical comparison
AU - Gardner, Donald G.
AU - Cummings, L. L.
AU - Dunham, Randall B.
AU - Pierce, Jon L
PY - 1998/12
Y1 - 1998/12
N2 - Common methods variance often is a problem with psychological measures that require respondent self-reports of attitudes, beliefs, perceptions, and the like. The present study examined this problem by comparing multiple-item, Likert-type measures of psychological constructs to single-item, non-Likert-type measures of the same constructs. Using confirmatory factor analysis, the alternative forms were compared on criteria of methods variance and construct validity. Neither method appeared to be empirically better than the other. Unusual situations in which well-developed single-item measures might be appropriate are discussed.
AB - Common methods variance often is a problem with psychological measures that require respondent self-reports of attitudes, beliefs, perceptions, and the like. The present study examined this problem by comparing multiple-item, Likert-type measures of psychological constructs to single-item, non-Likert-type measures of the same constructs. Using confirmatory factor analysis, the alternative forms were compared on criteria of methods variance and construct validity. Neither method appeared to be empirically better than the other. Unusual situations in which well-developed single-item measures might be appropriate are discussed.
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U2 - 10.1177/0013164498058006003
DO - 10.1177/0013164498058006003
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0032336173
SN - 0013-1644
VL - 58
SP - 898
EP - 915
JO - Educational and Psychological Measurement
JF - Educational and Psychological Measurement
IS - 6
ER -