For Work / Against Work
Debates on the centrality of work

Fregonese, Chiara; Caputo, Andrea; Langher, Viviana Work symbolic motive scale: development and validation of a measure of affective investment at work 2018 Article Psychology of Work Affective Investment, Symbolic Motication, Motivation, Power, Achievement, Investment, Autonomy, Empirical Study, Empirical Research, Experimentation
Citation Fregonese, Chiara; Caputo, Andrea; Langher, Viviana 2018 Article International Journal of Work Organisation and Emotion Affective Investment Symbolic Motication Motivation Power Achievement Investment Autonomy Empirical Study Empirical Research Experimentation Psychology of Work

"Work symbolic motive scale: development and validation of a measure of affective investment at work"

by Fregonese, Chiara; Caputo, Andrea; Langher, Viviana (2018)

Abstract

The general aim of this paper is to propose a conceptualisation and an operational measure for affective investment and symbolic motives at work. The work-symbolic motive scale (Work-SMS) score provides a general measure of affective investment, conceived as an endowing process of gratifying qualities to the work context, sustained by the four symbolic motives of achievement, affiliation, power and autonomy. Two studies were conducted (N = 632) suggesting a final 12-item scale with a second-order factor model. Evidence for construct and convergent validity was collected and overall good internal consistency, test-retest reliability estimates and predictive validity after one month were verified.

Keywords

Affective Investment, Symbolic Motication, Motivation, Power, Achievement, Investment, Autonomy, Empirical Study, Empirical Research, Experimentation

Themes

Psychology of Work

Links to Reference

Citation

Share


How to contribute.
Australian Research Council Ethics and Agency Research Centre
Privacy policy • Contact • Latest updates • Subscribe • RSS

Content Copyright 2026 Jean-Philippe Deranty and Macquarie University. This website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike Licence (except for journal/book abstracts and quotations which are the property of their respective authors).


Cite this page as though it were a secondary source, thus the inline citation should be (Fregonese, C.; Caputo, A.; Langher, V. 2018 p. 322-347 cited in Deranty et. al. 2026). In the references, use: