Does computerizing paper-and-pencil job attitude scales make a difference?New IRT analyses offer insight

The measurement equivalence of 2 scales of the Job Descriptive Index (JDI; P. C. Smith, L. hi. Kendall, & C. L. Hulin, 1969), the Supervisor Satisfact ion scale and the Coworker Satisfaction scale, was examined across computer ized and paper-and-pencil administrations. In this study, employees in 2 or ganizations (N = 1,777) were administered paper-and-pencil versions of the scales, and employees in a third organization (N = 509) were administered a computerized version. A newly developed item response theory (IRT) techniq ue for examining differential test functioning (N. S. Raju, W. J. van der L inden, & P. F. Fleer, 1995) was used to examine measurement equivalence acr oss media. Results support the measurement equivalence of the JDI Superviso r and Coworker scales across administration media. The implications of thes e findings for both practitioners and organizational researchers are discus sed.