Sources of variance in incumbent perceptions of job complexity

Abstract

Substantive research in the job design area has relied heavily on incumbent-based perceptions of job complexity (IPJC) measures (e.g., the Job Characteristics Inventory and the Job Diagnostic Survey). However, little research has addressed the construct validity of IPJC measures. The present study used longitudinal data to assess the convergent validity of an IPJC measure by examining its relation with an independent measure of complexity derived from the fourth edition of the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT-complexity). In addition, discriminant validity is assessed by examining the relation between the IPJC measure and a relatively broad range of individual (e.g., education) and situational (e.g., pay level) variables, controlling for DOT-complexity. The data are taken from the youth cohort (ages 16–21 in 1979; 19–24 in 1982) of the National Longitudinal Surveys of labor market experience. Results indicated that IPJC did converge significantly with DOT-complexity. Moreover, the set of individual and situational factors did not add significant explanatory power to an equation predicting IPJC using only DOT-complexity, thus providing support for the discriminant validity of the IPJC measure as well. These results may help alleviate reservations concerning previous substantive job design research that has relied almost exclusively on IPJC measures. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)