Confirmatory factor analysis of the styles of handling interpersonal conflict: first-order factor model and its invariance across groups.

Abstract

Confirmatory factor analysis of data (from 5 samples, n = 484 full-time employed management students; n = 550 public administrators; n = 214 university administrators; n = 250 bank managers and employees in Bangladesh; and n = 578 managers and employees) on the 28 items of the Rahim Organizational Conflict Inventory-II were performed with LISREL 7. The results provided support for the convergent and discriminant validities of the subscales measuring the 5 styles of handling interpersonal conflict (integrating, obliging, dominating, avoiding, and compromising) and general support for the invariance of the 5-factor model across referent roles (i.e., superiors, subordinates, and peers), organizational levels (top, middle, lower, and nonmanagement), and 4 of the 5 samples.