Equity sensitivity: Construction of a measure and examination of its psychometric properties

Despite suffering from content ambiguity, a sample-specific scoring procedu re, and the inappropriate use of cut scores, the Equity Sensitivity Instrum ent (Huseman, Hatfield, & Miles, 1985) has been the primary measure used in equity sensitivity research. The purpose of the present undertaking was to propose and evaluate a new measure of equity sensitivity based on systemat ic item-development procedures that are crucial in both constructing a reli able and content-valid measure and for gaining an unbiased understanding of the nomological network linking equity sensitivity to other theoretically relevant constructs. The design and evaluation of the 16-item Equity Prefer ence Questionnaire (EPQ) occurred in six studies. Two pilot studies were in itially conducted to purify the EPQ and assess its reliability. Two validit y assessment studies were then undertaken to examine the EPQ's construct va lidity. A laboratory experiment was performed next to determine the EPQ's v alidity for predicting satisfaction with different reward conditions. Final ly, a test-retest reliability study was conducted to provide evidence regar ding the consistency of the measurements yielded by the EPQ across time. Po ssible study limitations aside, the EPQ seems to be both psychometrically s ound and useful for advancing equity sensitivity research. Various areas in equity sensitivity research that merit further examination are also addres sed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.