International validation of the “Revised Motivation at Work Scale”: Validation
evidence in five different languages (French, English, Italian, Spanish, & Dutch)
Results of a cross-cultural validation study of the Revised Motivation at Work Scale is
presented in five languages. This scale attempts to improve over previous scales in several
ways. Firstly, previously published scales of work motivation using SDT overemphasized
an approach orientation for extrinsic motivation items and an avoidance orientation
for introjected motivation items. To overcome this problem, we distinguished between
introjection-approach and introjection-avoidance and also between extrinsic-material
(approach and avoidance) and extrinsic-social (approach and avoidance). Factorial analyses
confirm that this theoretical differentiation can be statistically detected. Moreover, alpha
coefficients are higher for external regulation than in previous scales. Secondly, strict
differentiation of the autonomous items into identified regulation and intrinsic motivation
was used when developing items. Previous scales sometimes combine identification and
intrinsic motivation into the same items. This increases the face validity of the scales.
Thirdly, previously published scales were only available in French or English (or were
translations of these measures), without empirical evidence showing equivalence across
languages, which limits cross-cultural generalization. This revised scale is translated in 12
languages - Chinese, Arabic, Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, Greek, German, Dutch, Spanish,
English, Italian and French - with data collected and analyzed for the latter five languages.
The present study conducted with 1910 participants shows empirical evidences of validity,
reliability and structural invariance in five different languages (French, English, Italian,
Spanish, and Dutch). We also show that the MAWS subscales are predictably related to
organizational behavior constructs. Implications for research and practice involving SDT in
organizations are discussed