How Well Does the CWEQ II Measure Structural Empowerment? Findings from Applying Item Response Theory

Farinaz Havaei,V Dahinten

doi:10.3390/admsci7020015

Farinaz Havaei, V Dahinten

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci7020015

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Journal: Administrative Sciences	Publication Date: May 23, 2017
Citations: 12	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University of British Columbia

Abstract

The main purpose of this paper is to examine the psychometric properties of the original five-point CWEQ II using Item Response Theory (IRT) methods, followed by an examination of the revised three-point CWEQ II. (1) Background: The psychometric properties of the CWEQ II have not been previously assessed using more robust techniques such as IRT. (2) Methods: This is a secondary analysis of baseline data from 1067 staff nurses whose leaders had attended a leadership development program. Data were analyzed using a polytomous IRT model. (3) Results: The two versions of CWEQ II fit the SE data equally as each had only one poor-fitting item. For the five-point CWEQ II, discriminant ability was poor for a majority of the items; one item demonstrated a disordinal step difficulty parameter; and item reliability was supported for a relatively wider range of SE levels. The discriminant ability and reliability of items for the three-point CWEQ II was better than those of the five-point CWEQ II, but for a narrower range of SE levels; and the disordinal step difficulty parameter was resolved. (4) Conclusion: The appropriate use of each version of the scale depends on the conditions of the work setting targeted.

Highlights

Structural empowerment (SE) is a widely-used concept in the nursing literature, one that is often considered when funders and nurse administrators are making important resource decisions such as offering nursing employees educational or promotional opportunities
The main purpose of this paper is to examine the psychometric properties of the original five-point CWEQ II using
With respect to the second research question, we found that the validity and reliability were partially supported for both versions of the CWEQ II

Summary

Introduction

Structural empowerment (SE) is a widely-used concept in the nursing literature, one that is often considered when funders and nurse administrators are making important resource decisions such as offering nursing employees educational or promotional opportunities. Outcomes predicted by SE include psychological empowerment [1], burnout [2], job satisfaction [3], organizational commitment [4], turnover [5] and quality of nursing care [6] When employees perceive they have access to empowering structures, they are more likely to identify their workplace as a healthy work environment. Aiken and colleagues studied the effects of unhealthy work environments caused by the extensive health care restructuring and downsizing that had occurred internationally over a decade ago These environments were shown to compromise nursing care, as evidenced by increased nurse burnout, intent to leave, adverse events, and patient morbidity and mortality [7,8,9,10]. Such findings prompted Dr Heather Laschinger and nursing colleagues from University of Western Ontario to attend to the notion of SE, leading to the development of the Conditions of Work Effectiveness Questionnaire I (with 58 items) and the shorter

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