Do Negatively Worded Questions Impact Survey Results? Survey Wording Effects in the Core Self-Evaluations Scale

• In Event: Paper Session 1 (Pending Title)

Abstract

Most researchers do not consider if the wording of survey items may impact the results. To investigate this problem, this study validated the instrument of the Core Self-Evaluations Scale and its wording effects, as well as its factor structure. A U.S. sample of higher education faculty members is utilized, and three different theoretical models are tested and compared. The results indicate that all three models have model fit problems. The findings indicate that the negatively-worded items impact the overall validity, potentially causing survey results to be misleading. To improve the psychometric properties of the CSES, the revised one-factor CSES with 8 items is developed. The revised measure could be utilized for evaluation of faculty and researching their self-evaluations.

Authors

• Chen Zong, University of Colorado - Denver

• Miriam Howland Cummings, University of Colorado - Denver

• Carolyn A. Haug, University of Colorado - Denver

• Nancy L. Leech, University of Colorado - Denver