Further Examination of the Work Autonomy Scales: Three Studies

Recently, Breaugh (1985) developed an instrument that measures three facets, i.e., method, scheduling, and criteria, of work autonomy. This paper presents the results of three studies designed to evaluate both the construct validity and the perceived usefulness of Breaugh's Work Autonomy Scales. In the first study, confirmatory factor analysis was used to assess the underlying factor structure of the three work autonomy facet measures. Each of several methods for assessing the fit of a theoretical model confirmed that a three-facet model clearly fit the sample data. In Study 2, an experimental design was used to examine the degree to which individuals'self-reports of autonomy actually reflected objective conditions. A close correspondence between the experimental manipulations and subjective ratings of autonomy was found. In Study 3, the perceived usefulness of the information provided by the three autonomy scales was examined. In both an absolute and a comparative sense, i.e., in comparison to measuring autonomy globally, the three autonomy scales were perceived as providing valuable information.