Organizational climate: a historical review of the construct

Organizational climate can be characterized as a set of perceptions, shared by workers, of different aspects that make up the organizational environment, being one of the most investigated constructs in the field of Organizational Behavior. This paper aims to organize part of the knowledge produced concerning organizational climate along years, establishing a historical order of research in three stages: from 1930 to 1960, studies of construct taxonomy, context and structure; from 1970 to 1980, distinction between the concepts of organizational climate and culture; and from 1990 on, empirical studies to assess the discriminant validity of organizational climate in relation to other constructs, and development of new analysis methods. The paper emphasizes the urgency of designing new theoretical models to integrate the set of descriptors of existing ones, as well as a wider use of psychometric techniques for the empirical validation of those models

Attitude of nurses and predisposition to occurrence of adverse events in intensive care units

Objective: to evaluate the attitudes of nurses towards conditions that may predispose to the occurrence of adverse events in the ICU. Method: exploratory, analytical, descriptive, cross-sectional study with quantitative approach performed in six high complexity ICUs of general and teaching hospitals using a convenience sample of 128 nurses. Results: nearly 48% of participants had low perception of risk factors that could predispose to the occurrence of adverse events. There was a significant difference in the attitude of nurses working in public and philanthropic organizations (

Construction and content validation of the scale of predisposition to the occurrence of adverse events

This study aimed to present the results of the construction and content validation of the Scale of Predisposition for the Occurrence of Adverse Events (EPEA). A descriptive research with a qualitative approach was carried out. To study the quality of nursing care and design the scale, we performed a literature review that resulted in a preliminary instrument, composed of 90 items, divided into two dimensions to assess the quality of health care (structure and process). Expert analysis and semantic analysis were applied as techniques to study the content validity of the instrument. The findings indicate that the operational version of the EPEA was composed of 64 items, grouped into two dimensions: structure (18 items) and process (46 items). The EPEA is the first Brazilian measure constructed to assess the nurses’ attitudes towards the factors that may predispose to the occurrence of adverse events in ICU

Análise psicométrica da escala de predisposição à ocorrência de eventos adversos no cuidado de enfermagem em UTI

OBJECTIVE: to present the result of the validity and reliability studies concerning the Scale for the Predisposition to the Occurrence of Adverse Events (EPEA). METHOD: construct validity was based on Principal Components Analysis. RESULTS: reliability verified through Cronbach's alpha indicated good reliability (structure α=0.80; process α=0.92). CONCLUSION: based on its psychometric indicators, the EPEA can be considered a valid measure to assess the attitudes of nurses in relation to factors that potentially lead to the occurrence of adverse events in ICUs.OBJETIVO: presentar los resultados del estudio de validez y confiabilidad de la Escala de Predisposición a la Ocurrencia de Eventos Adversos (EPEA). MÉTODO: el estudio de la validez de constructo se realizó con la técnica de análisis de componentes principales. RESULTADOS: el examen de confiabilidad de la EPEA a través del Alpha de Cronbach indicó buena confiabilidad (estructura α=0,80; proceso α=0,92). CONCLUSIÓN: teniendo como base sus indicadores psicométricos, la EPEA puede ser considerada una medida válida para evaluar las actitudes de los enfermeros frente a los factores que puede predisponer a la ocurrencia de los eventos adversos en UTI.OBJETIVO: apresentar os resultados do estudo de validade e fidedignidade da Escala de Predisposição à Ocorrência de Eventos Adversos (EPEA). MÉTODO: o estudo da validade de construto ocorreu pela técnica de análise de componentes principais. RESULTADOS: o exame da fidedignidade da EPEA por intermédio do alfa de Cronbach indicou boa confiabilidade (estrutura α=0,80; processo α=0,92). CONCLUSÃO: tendo por base seus indicadores psicométricos, a EPEA pode ser considerada uma medida válida para avaliar as atitudes dos enfermeiros frente aos fatores que podem predispor à ocorrência dos eventos adversos em UTI

Construção e validação de conteúdo da escala de predisposição à ocorrência de eventos adversos

This study aimed to present the results of the construction and content validation of the Scale of Predisposition for the Occurrence of Adverse Events (EPEA). A descriptive research with a qualitative approach was carried out. To study the quality of nursing care and design the scale, we performed a literature review that resulted in a preliminary instrument, composed of 90 items, divided into two dimensions to assess the quality of health care (structure and process). Expert analysis and semantic analysis were applied as techniques to study the content validity of the instrument. The findings indicate that the operational version of the EPEA was composed of 64 items, grouped into two dimensions: structure (18 items) and process (46 items). The EPEA is the first Brazilian measure constructed to assess the nurses' attitudes towards the factors that may predispose to the occurrence of adverse events in ICU.Este estudio objetivó presentar los resultados de la construcción y validación de contenido de la Escala de Predisposición a Eventos Adversos (EPEA). Se trata de una investigación descriptiva, bajo enfoque cualitativo. Para estudiar la calidad del cuidado y preparación del instrumento, se realizó una revisión de la literatura, que resultó en un instrumento preliminar que contiene 90 ítems, divididos en dos dimensiones para evaluar la calidad del cuidado de salud (estructura y proceso). Se realizó la validación del contenido del instrumento por medio de las técnicas de análisis de los jueces y semántico. A partir de este análisis, la EPEA se compone de 64 ítems, agrupados en dos dimensiones: la estructura (18 ítems) y el proceso (46 ítems). La EPEA es la primera medida nacional, construida para evaluar las actitudes de los enfermeros a los factores que pueden predisponer a la aparición de efectos adversos en la UTI.Neste estudo o objetivo foi apresentar os resultados da construção e validação de conteúdo da Escala de Predisposição à Ocorrência de Eventos Adversos (EPEA). Trata-se de pesquisa descritiva, de abordagem qualitativa. Para o estudo da qualidade do cuidado e elaboração dos itens do instrumento, foi realizado levantamento bibliográfico, que resultou em um instrumento preliminar, contendo 90 itens, divididos em duas dimensões para a avaliação da qualidade do cuidado em saúde (estrutura e processo). Foi realizada a validação de conteúdo do instrumento por meio das técnicas de análise de juízes e análise semântica. A partir dos resultados dessas análises, a EPEA ficou finalmente composta por 64 itens, agrupados em duas dimensões: estrutura (18 itens) e processo (46 itens). A EPEA é a primeira medida nacional construída para avaliar as atitudes dos enfermeiros frente aos fatores que podem predispor à ocorrência dos eventos adversos em UTI

Sociological, anthropological and psychological bases for organizational commitment

Organizational commitment is a complex and polysemic construct, and there is no consensus about which definition best describes it. As it is often mistaken for other constructs such as job satisfaction, identification and involvement, few studies have investigated the sociological, anthropological and psychological influences of organizational commitment. Thus, the aim of this paper is to present some social exchange theories, as well as symbol sharing and the relationship between cognitive and social processes, which can provide a better understanding of the individual-organization bonds. A detailed study of some social theories that precede the conception of commitment as an object of study in the field of organizational behavior is substantial to the conceptual clarity of the phenomenon, and indispensable for future studies in discriminant validity as compared to other types of social bonds

Attitudinal organizational commitment: an empirical research study into the construct dimensionality

The lack of precision surrounding the dimensionality of organizational commitment helps to make it a complex and multifaceted construct. In order to identify the best factor structure for organizational commitment, this study tested the inter-relationship between two attitudinal measures (affective and instrumental) and also the relationship of these variables with a measurement of behavioral intentions. We selected 1,869 workers from the Northern, Northeastern and Southern regions of Brazil. The results of the regression analysis and both the exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis showed the bidimensionality of the instrumental dimension (lack of alternatives and high sacrifices); on the other hand, they demonstrated that this dimension is not part of the factor structure of attitudinal organizational commitment, which in turn is a one dimensional construct, comprising only the affective dimension

Predicting school achievement rather than intelligence: does metacognition matter?

This paper investigates the role of specific and general metacognitive ability on specific and general academic achievement, controlling for the effects of intelligence. Four hypotheses were elaborated and empirically tested through structural equation modelling. The sample was composed by 684 students (6th to 12th graders) from a private Brazilian school, which answered to three intelligence tests and three metacognitive tests. The modeled hypotheses presented a good data-fit (χ² = 51.18; df = 19; CFI = 1.00; RMSEA = 0.05), showing that the general metacognitive ability explained general academic achievement rather than intelligence, but did not explain specific academic achievement. On the other hand, specific metacognitive ability explained specific academic achievement rather than intelligence, but did not explain general academic achievement. The predictive power of the general metacognitive ability was greater than fluid intelligence in the explanation of general academic achievement. In the same line, specific metacognitive ability had a greater predictive power than intelligence and specific knowledge in the explanation of specific academic achievement. Finally, a new structural model of metacognition and its role in academic achievement are proposed

Conception and validation of the Behavioral Intentions Scale of Organizational Citizenship (BISOC)

This study aimed to construct and validate the Behavioral Intentions of Organizational Citizenship Scale (BISOC). Organizational citizenship consists of measures of voluntary behaviors, which are beneficial to organizations and are not explicit in employment contracts. To investigate the psychometric properties of BISOC, we selected 767 employees in different cities from the states of Bahia and Pernambuco (Brazil). The validation procedures adopted, which used techniques from both Classical Test Theory and Item Response Theory, showed that the BISOC has a unidimensional structure. From the initial set of 42 items, 35 items met the validation criteria. By presenting suitable psychometric parameters, BISOC is the first measure of organizational citizenship behaviors developed and validated to assess behavioral intentions

Validation of the Comfort scale for relatives of people in critical states of health

Objective: this methodological study aims to present the construct validity of the Comfort scale for family members of people in a critical state of health (ECONF). Method: this is a methodological study. The sample was made up of 274 family members of adults receiving inpatient treatment in six Intensive Care Units (ICU) in the State of Bahía responded to 62 items distributed in 7 dimensions. The validation procedures adopted were based on the techniques of the Classical Test Theory. Results: the analysis of dimensionality was undertaken through principal components analysis, a scale being obtained with 55 items distributed in four factors: Safety, Support, Family member-relative interaction and Integration with oneself and the everyday. The analysis of the items' , discriminative power, undertaken by the item-total correlation-coefficient showed a good relationship of the items with their respective factors. From the ECONF's reliability test, from the analysis of internal consistency, a raised Alpha Cronbach coefficient was obtained for the 4 factors and the general measurement. Conclusion: the comfort scale presented satisfactory psychometric parameters, thus constituting the first valid instrument for evaluating the comfort of family members of people in a critical state of health. The advance made by the study lies in its theoretical framework on comfort, and provides the health team with a scale based on empirical evidence