Do We Need to Weight Item Satisfaction by Item Importance? A Perspective from Locke’s Range-Of-Affect Hypothesis |
| |
Authors: | Chia-Huei Wu Grace Yao |
| |
Institution: | (1) Department of Psychology, National Taiwan University, 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt RD., Taipei, Taiwan |
| |
Abstract: | Importance weighting is a common idea in quality of life (QOL) measurement. Based on the common idea that important domains
should have more contributions to individuals’ QOL total score, the weighting procedure of multiplying item satisfaction by
item importance was adopted in many QOL instruments. However, in Locke’s 1969, Organizational Behavior and Human Performance
4, pp. 309–336; 1976, in: M.D. Dunnette (eds.), Handbook of Industrial and Organizational Psychology (Rand McNally, Chicago),
pp. 1297–1343] range-of-affect hypothesis, he indicated that the satisfaction evaluation of an item was determined by the
have–want discrepancy, importance and their interaction (discrepancy × importance), implying that item satisfaction has incorporated
the judgment of item importance, therefore, weighting an item satisfaction score with an item importance score is unnecessary.
The purpose of this study was to examine the range-of-affect hypothesis in the context of QOL research. Three hundred and
thirty two undergraduate students at National Taiwan University (NTU) participated in the study. Item satisfaction, importance
and perceived have–want discrepancy were measured for 12 different life-area items. Global life satisfaction was measured
as well. Regression analysis results showed that item importance and perceived have–want discrepancy have a significant interaction
effect on item satisfaction, supporting Locke’s range-of-affect hypothesis. In addition, regression analysis results also
showed that item importance and item satisfaction did not have a significant interaction effect on global satisfaction, suggesting
that weighting item satisfaction score by item importance value does not have advantages in predicting global satisfaction.
In a summary, the findings revealed that item satisfaction has incorporated the judgment of item importance, and, thus, the
procedure of importance weighting on item satisfaction is unnecessary. |
| |
Keywords: | importance quality of life satisfaction weighting |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|