Generalizability of Menon's Empowerment Scale

Abstract

this study tests the generalizability of the psychological empowerment model proposed by Menon in 2001 by replicating and extending the original Canadian study, using Australian samples. In phase 1 of the research, a replica of the original scale development questionnaire was administered to 266 employed individuals taking courses at a university in South Australia. Factor analysis of the scale items faithfully reproduced the original three factors from Menon's study and the subscale reliabilities were: perceived control (.87), perceived competence (.81) and goal internalization (.86). In phase 2 of the research conducted with 80 employed individuals, empowerment was found to be negatively correlated with centralization and positively correlated with delegating supervisory behavior, again in line with the original results. In addition, empowerment was found to be positively correlated with Manhardt's values favoring career advancement and a work environment that includes sources of intrinsic motivation.