Causality Orientations at Work Scale in the Finnish Working Context

Petri Karkkola; Anja H. Olafsen; Hallgeir Halvari

doi:10.16993/sjwop.319

Causality Orientations at Work Scale in the Finnish Working Context

Scandinavian Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology

Volume 10 (2025): Issue 1

By: Petri Karkkola , Anja H. Olafsen and Hallgeir Halvari

Open Access

|Apr 2025

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to translate the original Norwegian Causality Orientations at Work Scale (COWS) into Finnish and to examine the psychometric properties and criterion validity of the translated measure. A heterogenous sample of Finnish employees (N = 641) completed the Finnish COWS and measures of basic psychological need satisfaction, intrinsic motivation, amotivation, vigour, and exhaustion. In confirmatory factor analysis, fit of the expected three-factor structure of autonomy, control, and impersonal causality orientations was mostly below acceptable. According to the modification indices, estimating several residual covariances would have improved fit. In exploratory structural equation modelling (ESEM), fit of the three-factor model with estimated but minimized cross-loadings was mostly satisfactory to good. The ESEM model demonstrated between-groups measurement invariance at levels from configural to residual invariance and excellent criterion-related validity with the focal measures. The Finnish COWS is a good translation of the original measure that can be used in research with caution. Its further development, especially regarding potentially problematic vignettes and items, is facilitated by the information provided by modification indices and cross-loadings discussed in the present study.

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Articles in this issue

DOI: https://doi.org/10.16993/sjwop.319 | Journal eISSN: 2002-2867

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Language: English

Page range: 4 - 4

Submitted on: May 28, 2024

Accepted on: Mar 19, 2025

Published on: Apr 16, 2025

Published by: Stockholm University Press

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

Keywords:

self-determination theory,

causality orientations theory,

causality orientations,

basic psychological needs,

exploratory structural equation modelling

© 2025 Petri Karkkola, Anja H. Olafsen, Hallgeir Halvari, published by Stockholm University Press
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Volume 10 (2025): Issue 1