Development of the Sphere Overlap Scale (SOS) : compartmentalization and the spillover hypothesis

Authors

Tina Marie Burns, Florida International University

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

Master of Science (MS)

Major/Program

Psychology

First Advisor's Name

James Rotton

First Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Chair

Second Advisor's Name

Chockalingam Viswesvaran

Third Advisor's Name

Ram Aditya

Date of Defense

6-11-2003

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to create a scale that could measure compartmentalization. In the first of two studies 311 working undergraduates were asked to indicate agreement with 119 items that measured compartmentalization. The resulting scale's reliability and validity were evaluated by having a second sample of 312 working students complete the items that comprise a sphere overlap scale, two measures of spillover, and a measure of personality, coping, and demoralization. Although the study's original goal was not realized, its procedures were successful in developing a short (10-item) measure of work-to-home spillover whose items loaded on a single factor. Structural equation modeling indicated that SOS items were correlated with existing measures of spillover and could be discriminated from related concepts of personality and coping. The SOS was also more highly correlated with demoralization than existing measures of spillover in hierarchical analyses that controlled for demographic factors, personality characteristics, and coping style. It is concluded that the SOS shows enough promise to warrant the cost of its appraisal as an alternative measure of spillover in a longitudinal study.

Identifier

FI14051887

Recommended Citation

Burns, Tina Marie, "Development of the Sphere Overlap Scale (SOS) : compartmentalization and the spillover hypothesis" (2003). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1893.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/1893