Psychometric Properties of the Organizational Violence and Aggression Scale in the Workplace Climate of Puerto Rico

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22544/rcps.v42i02.01

Keywords:

Organizational Violence, Physical Aggression, Psychological Aggression

Abstract

Violence in the workplace refers to threatening or violent action against an employee. The purpose of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of the Organizational Violence and Aggression in the Workplace Climate Scale (EVOACL) Kessler et al. (2008) in a sample of Puerto Rican adults. A total of 204 workers participated in this exploratory, instrumental and psychometric study. The results showed a Three-factor solution as the most appropriate to explain the variance in the scores. These factors identified as Policies and Procedures, Procedures and Response, and Imposition of Unsafe Practices. A total of 18 items met the criteria of discrimination and appropriate factor loads (six items per factor.) The reliability index of the scale was .96 (Cronbach’s alpha) for the dimensions of the Policies and Procedures and Procedures and Responses and .92 (Cronbach’s alpha) for the dimension of the Imposition of Unsafe Practices. These results suggest that the EVOACL has the potential to measure this construct in the Puerto Rican work environment. Also, EVOACL will allow the advance of new research on the phenomenon of Organizational Violence and  Aggression in the Workplace Climate in the working population of Puerto Rico.

Author Biographies

Rita Vélez Alvarado, Consultora independiente, Puerto Rico

Doctor in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Puerto Rico. Topics of interest: industrial and organizational psychology, leadership, mental health and human resources. She has articles published in international psychology journals in Colombia and Brazil. Independent consultant.

Adam Rosario Rodríguez, Universidad Albizu, San Juan, Puerto Rico

Doctor in Industrial--Organizational Psychology from Universidad Albizu and master's degree in  Computer Science from the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico. He works as an assistant professor at Albizu University and Ponce Health Sciences University, both in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Dr. Rosario is  licensed to practice the profession of psychology in Puerto Rico by the Puerto Rico Psychologist  Examining Board. He is the founder and consultant of a consulting firm called Zen Statistics LLC, where they provide consulting services in psychological research and data science. Additionally, he is a  member of the Puerto Rico Psychology Association. His research interests are focused on applied  psychology, cyber-psychology, psychometrics, occupational health psychology, augmented reality, virtual reality, mixed realities, as well as artificial intelligence, video games and distance learning.

Abner Vélez, Consultor independiente, Puerto Rico

Doctor in Industrial-Oraganizational Psychology from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Puerto Rico. He has several articles published in international psychology journals such as in Colombia and Venezuela. Topics of interest: validity of psychometric instruments and psychology of work and healthy organizations. Independent professional services consultant.

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Published

2023-12-29

How to Cite

Vélez Alvarado, R., Rosario Rodríguez, A., & Vélez, A. (2023). Psychometric Properties of the Organizational Violence and Aggression Scale in the Workplace Climate of Puerto Rico. Costa Rican Journal of Psychology, 42(2), 163–180. https://doi.org/10.22544/rcps.v42i02.01

Issue

Vol. 42 No. 2 (2023): Costa Rican Journal of Psychology (July-December 2023)

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Articles

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