| The general purpose of this study was to develop and validate a new measure of cynicism about organizational change. Following a deductive approach to scale generation (Schwab, 1980), items were generated for three cynicism measures (dispositional, management-specific, and change-specific) based on the definition of cynicism as the questioning of motives. Change-specific cynicism was conceptualized as being distinct from skepticism, which was defined as doubt about the viability of a change accomplishing its objective. Two studies were used to assess the validity of the new change-specific cynicism scale. In Study 1, 65 participants, working in a variety of organizations, were asked to identify a change initiative and respond to questions designed to measure cynicism, skepticism, potential antecedents of cynicism, commitment to change, and intent to resist. In Study 2, 122 undergraduates students participated in a simulation study examining the effects of manipulating perceptions of motives and doubt on both cynicism and skepticism scores, as well as on commitment to change and intent to resist. (Abstract shortened by UMI.). |
