The Ingratiation Construct: An Assessment of the Validity of the Measure of Ingratiatory Behaviors in Organizational Settings (MIBOS)

• Published in: Journal of applied psychology 1998-12, Vol.83 (6), p.932-943
• Main Authors: Harrison, Allison W, Hochwarter, Wayne A, Perrewe, Pamela L, Ralston, David A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Behavior; Biological and medical sciences; Construct validity; Convergent Validity; Employees; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Human; Impression Management; Independent sample; Ingratiation; Male; Measure of Ingratiatory Behaviors in Organizational Settings; Occupational psychology; Organization theory; Organizational analysis; Organizational Behavior; Organizational research; Personnel; Psychological aspects; Psychological tests; Psychology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Psychometrics; Rating Scales; Social behaviour; Statistical Validity; Studies; Test Validity; Validation studies; Validity
• ISSN: 0021-9010; 1939-1854
• DOI: 10.1037/0021-9010.83.6.932

Independent samples were used to assess the construct validity of the Measure of Ingratiatory Behaviors in Organizational Settings (MIBOS) scale ( K. Kumar & M. Beyerlein, 1991 ). The 4 samples included managerial personnel ( n = 288), members of 2 professional organizations ( n = 144), clerical employees ( n = 110), and working students ( n = 279). Three distinct conceptualizations were examined using confirmatory factor analysis (LISREL 8). Alternative models included (a) a 4-factor conceptualization proposed by Kumar and Beyerlein; (b) a 4-factor, 2nd-order conceptualization; and (c) a unidimensional model. None of the models provided adequate support for the factor structure of the measure. Similarly, convergent and discriminant assessments failed to provide strong support for the validity of the scale.