CAN IPSATIVE AND SINGLE-ITEM MEASURES PRODUCE ERRONEOUS RESULTS IN FIELD STUDIES OF FRENCH AND RAVENS (1959) 5 BASES OF POWER - AN EMPIRICAL-INVESTIGATION

Research is presented on the single-item ranking (ipsative) scales that have been the dominant measures used to assess French and Raven's (1959) power bases in previous organizational research. These measures, along with multi-item and single-item Likert rating scales, were administered to 3 independent samples. Two of these samples were also administered measures of job satisfaction, motivation, role clarity and conflict, and organizational commitment; the 3rd sample was given a second administration of the 3 sets of power measures 2 weeks later. Analysis of variance and correlational and chi-square analyses yielded largely consistent results, indicating that single-item and ranking measures have serious psychometric shortcomings and that they produce distorted results in field-collected data. Implications for the interpretation of previous research are considered, as well as suggestions for improved future research.