Bias and equivalence of the Strengths Use and Deficit Correction questionnaire in a South African bank

Abstract

Organisations are facing the challenge of implementing strategies geared to improve employees’ performances and maximise the company’s returns. Positive psychology, particularly the strengths-based approach (SBA) provides an answer to this challenge. Based on the literature review, no evidence was found of instruments that measure both strengths and weaknesses at an individual and organisation level. In order to bridge this gap, Van Woerkom et al. (2016) developed the Strength Use and Deficit COrrection (SUDCO) questionnaire. The general objective of the present study, therefore, was to validate the SUDCO in a specific working sample (N = 658) of banking employees, and to examine the bias and equivalence of the SUDCO across the Nguni, Sesotho, and West-Germanic language groups. In addition, the functioning of the SUDCO was compared across language groups in terms of age, organisational tenure, and gender. The researcher selected a cross-sectional design that employed convenient sampling. Confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) were conducted to confirm the four-factor structure. A multi-group CFA was done simultaneously for a direct comparison of the SUDCO’s fit for the three language groups. The results confirmed the four-factor structure, namely POS for strengths use, POS for deficit correction, strengths-use behaviour and deficit-correction behaviour. Multi-group analyses indicated that the instrument was not biased and was equivalent across the three language groups. The results had also shown that the SUDCO provides a consistent measure with Cronbach’s alpha coefficient ranging from α = 0.93 to α = 0.94 for each subscale. Furthermore, the regression analyses revealed that, the effects for the two strengths use dimensions in particular, showed significant coefficients with age and organizational tenure. After conclusions were drawn on the present research study, recommendations were made for the organisation as well as for possible future research