Psychometric development and validation of personal growth initiative scale across male and female in early adulthood population in Pakistan: a comparative study

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJHRH-12-2020-0123
• Published date: 27 December 2021
• Date: 27 December 2021
• Pages: 19-33
• Subject Matter: Health & social care,Vulnerable groups,Inequalities & diverse/minority groups,Sociology,Race & ethnic studies,Minorities,Multiculturalism,Racial identity,Work,economy & organizations
• Author: Bisma Zahid,Saima Ehsan,Mehreen Ashraf,Nimra Shoukat,Aaisha Rafi,Hina Naukhaiz,Zoia Nawaz

Psychometric development and validation

of personal growth initiative scale across

male and female in early adulthood

population in Pakistan: a

comparative study

Bisma Zahid, Saima Ehsan, Mehreen Ashraf, Nimra Shoukat, Aaisha Rafi, Hina Naukhaiz

and Zoia Nawaz

Abstract

Purpose –The active andintentional involvement of a person in changingand developing as a person is

a crucial and worth considering phenomenon that comes under the umbrella of positive psychology.

There has been a previousstudy done on personal growth initiative (PGI) but thatstudy did not explain

whether this phenomenonexceeds in men or in women. Plus, previous studies were confinedto college

students only. This study aims to assess how gender influences PGI, to validate the psychometric

properties of the PGI scale and to evaluate the relationship of PGI with mental well-being, career

orientation and to examine whether this factor dominates in men or women and to critically validate at

what age anindividual starts initiating personalgrowth. The other main objective of thestudy is to work on

the limitations and gaps left inprevious studies on PGI by establishing a psychometrically reliable and

valid scale/instrument.

Design/methodology/approach –To develop a scale, first, focus group discussions we re

conducted with six groups. Through random sampling, a sample of 50 men and 50 women were

taken for the pilot study and N= 449 (156 men and 293 women) f or the main study with ages ranging

from 18 to 35years were taken (M = 42.30, SD = 12.61). The study consisted of focus group

discussions followed by thematicanalysis and item pool generation which further followed the main

study analysis. For the development of the scale, a t heoretical basis along with focus group

discussion was conducted to establish an item pool of 123 items. After ward, 7 experts in the

surroundings examined those 123 items to perform subject expert matter to establish content

validity. Mixed method was used as a research method in which exploratory sequential design was

used. Focus groups were used as a data collection techni que. Random sampling is used to collect

participants for study/methodology/approach –t he study consisted of focus group discussions

followed by thematic analysis and item pool gene ration which further followed the main study

analysis. A 19 item five-point Likert-typescale is constructed for public administration on a sample

of N= 449 (men = 156 and women = 293). Alpha reliability of the scale (0.83), Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin

(KMO) (0.88) and Bartlett’s, psychometric properties of st udy variables skewness (0.47), kurtosis

(0.17). Inter item correlation matrix, item-total correlation, Scree plotting, t-test(t=1.90) and (p=

0.05) and linear regression analysis are analyzed on the d ata and items. This scale is kept

parsimonious sothat it could be understood by the general population as well.

Findings –A 19 item five-point Likert-typescale is constructed for public administration on a sampleof

N= 449 (men = 156 and women = 293).High Alpha reliability of the scale (a = 0.83), KMO (0.88) and

Bartlett’s, psychometric properties of study variables skewness (0.47), kurtosis (0.17). Inter item

correlation matrix, Scree plotting, t-test (t=1.90) and (p= 0.05) and linear regression analysis are

analyzed on the data and items. Three factors i.e. effectiveness, shaping and aptitude were formed

through exploratory factor analysis (EFA). KMO value of 0.88 suggests that the sample is sufficient to

Bisma Zahid, Saima Ehsan,

Mehreen Ashraf,

Nimra Shoukat, Aaisha Rafi,

Hina Naukhaiz and

Zoia Nawaz are all based at

the Department of

Psychology, Foundation

University Islamabad,

Islamabad, Pakistan.

Received 20 December 2020

Revised 18 March 2021

Accepted 16 April 2021

The authors wouldlike to ex press

their special appreciation and

thanks to Mr Muhammad Akeel

whoprovided guidanceand

supportto them in writingthe

Manuscript. Authors would

especially like to thank all the

participants who contributed to

the study and made the success

of this study possibleby being

so responsive andcooperative.

A special thanks to all their

mentors and motivators.Their

study is free fromany author

conflicts. And the artical they are

submitting was not funded at

any point.

DOI 10.1108/IJHRH-12-2020-0123 VOL. 16 NO. 1 2023,pp. 19-33, ©Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2056-4902 jINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN HEALTHCARE jPAGE 19