Preliminary Study of Adaptation of the Motivation Model for the Perry Public Service (1996) within the Portuguese Context

Abstract

Public Service Motivation (PSM) has been shown to be a consistent model in the various studies in which it was used. This study aims to contribute to the validation of PSM, conceptualized by Perry and Wise (1990), within the Portuguese context. Starting from the dimensions that make up PSM in the model proposed by Perry (1996), we intend to identify the dimensions with possible relevance to the Portuguese context. This research inserts itself into the context of a large project of validation of the PSM model representative of the Portuguese Public Administration. Using a questionnaire initially proposed by Perry (1996) which covers forty items to measure the six dimensions, we performed different Exploratory Factor Analyses (EFA) through the elimination of the items that presented a factor loading of below 0,50 and/or saturated with a factor loading greater than 0,50, in more than one extracted factor. Following this, by using the Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), we compared the measurement model achieved (EFA) with the two other models. One was that initially proposed by Perry (1996) and the other was the final model discovered in this study by Perry (1996). The results obtained allowed the identification of three dimensions of the six proposed initially by Perry (1996) and two new dimensions which assume a reverse nature. They are Social Selfishness and Social Cynicism, there not being, however, any literature found to contextualize them within the scope of PSM. The implications of these results were also discussed and future studies suggested.