Abstract
To date, no short scale exists with established factor structure that can assess individual differences in competition. The aim of the present study was to uncover and operationalize the facets of competitive orientations with theoretical underpinning and strong psychometric properties. A total of 2676 respondents were recruited for four studies. The items were constructed based on qualitative research in different cultural contexts. A combined method of exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was employed. ESEM resulted in a four-factor structure of the competitive orientations and this structure was supported by a series of CFAs on different comprehensive samples. The Multidimensional Competitive Orientation Inventory (MCOI) included 12 items and four factors: hypercompetitive orientation, self-developmental competitive orientation, anxiety-driven competition avoidance, and lack of interest toward competition. Strong gender invariance was established. The four facets of competition have differentiated relationship patterns with adaptive and maladaptive personality and motivational constructs. The MCOI can assess the adaptive and maladaptive facets of competitive orientations with a short, reliable, valid and theoretically underlined multidimensional measure.
Highlights
Research on individual differences in competitive orientations is mostly based on a unidimensional concept of competition (Ryckman et al, 1990, 1996, 2009)
We propose a new measure, Faces of Competition the Multidimensional Competitive Orientation Inventory (MCOI) that could complete this shortcoming of the competition research literature
In the first part of the analysis, each of the 20 items were examined on the basis of (1) corrected item-total correlations, (2) normality in terms of skewness and kurtosis, and (3) content validity compared to the other items and competition in general
Summary
Research on individual differences in competitive orientations is mostly based on a unidimensional concept of competition (Ryckman et al, 1990, 1996, 2009). A scale integrating the different facets of competitive orientations allows the examination of the blend of competitive attitudes which are not mutually exclusive. This measure allows to examine simultaneously the constructive and destructive aspects of competitive orientations that can have intrapersonal and interpersonal consequences. No prior measure with established factor structure could capture the multifaceted complexity of individual differences in competition. We propose a new measure, Faces of Competition the Multidimensional Competitive Orientation Inventory (MCOI) that could complete this shortcoming of the competition research literature
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