The development of a personality and behavioural measure of workplace deviance for young adults in the Singapore context

Abstract

This study aimed to explore personality and behavioural indicators of workplace deviance, develop the Personality Behaviour Workplace Questionnaire (PBWQ), and examine its psychometric properties in predicting workplace deviance. This study’s sample included 388 18–65 year-old Singaporeans recruited via an online questionnaire. A cross-sectional research method design was employed to evaluate the PBWQ’s psychometric properties and analyse effects of personality and behavioural indicators on self-reported workplace deviance. Results indicated robust psychometric properties of the PBWQ which included strong to moderate internal consistency (α=.34-.89), test-retest reliability (r=.30-.92, p<.01) and criterion validity (r=.14-.71, p<.01) in the prediction of workplace deviance. While Behavioural Indicators (β=1.11, t=18.36, p<.001) and two out of five Personality Indicators (i.e., Effortful Control (β=1.85, t=3.82, p<.01) and Integrity (β=1.85, t=3.76, p<.01)) showed to be strong predictors of workplace deviance, the other three Personality Indicators (i.e., Aggression, Hostility and Negative Affectivity) did not (p>.05). Further, behavioural indicators showed stronger predictive validity of workplace deviance scores (i.e., explained 50% variance) over personality indicators (i.e., explained only 1% variance). Factor analyses provided evidence for a clear two-factor structure of the PBWQ, with Personality Indicators and Behavioural Indicators as two distinct domains. Overall, results showed the PBWQ to be a scientifically robust psychometric assessment tool and implied its appropriacy for entry-level workplace assessments in the Singapore context.