Psychometric Verification of Perry's Public Service Motivation Instrument: Results for Volunteer Exemplars

  • David H. Coursey
  • , James L. Perry
  • , Jeffrey L Brudney
  • , Laura Littlepage

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

94 Scopus citations

Abstract

This research note reports a confirmatory factor analysis for three of Perry's (1996) public service motivation (PSM) subdimensions: Self-sacrifice, commitment to public interest, and compassion. A mail survey of national award-winning volunteers constitutes the sample. Results indicate strong support for Perry's instrument, most noticeably better results for self-sacrifice than those found in Perry's original exploratory work. Implications and recommendations for PSM instrument development are discussed. © 2008, Sage Publications. All rights reserved.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)79-90
Number of pages12
JournalReview of Public Personnel Administration
Volume28
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2008

Keywords

  • confirmatory factor analysis
  • motivation
  • personnel
  • public service ethic
  • structural equation modeling
  • volunteerism

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