The ingratiation construct: An assessment of the validity of the Measure of Ingratiatory Behaviors in Organizational Settings (MIBOS)

Independent samples were used to assess the construct validity of the Measu re of Ingratiatory Behaviors in Organizational Settings (MIBOS) scale (K. K umar & M. Beyerlein, 1991). The 4 samples included managerial personnel (n = 288), members of 2 professional organizations (n = 144), clerical employe es (n = 110), and working students (n = 279). Three distinct conceptualizat ions were examined using confirmatory factor analysis (LISREL 8). Alternati ve models included (a) a 4-factor conceptualization proposed by Kumar and B eyerlein; (b) a 4-factor, 2nd-order conceptualization; and (c) a unidimensi onal model. None of the models provided adequate support for the factor str ucture of the measure. Similarly, convergent and discriminant assessments f ailed to provide strong support for the validity of the scale.