Developing a tool to measure social workers\u27 perceptions regarding the extent to which they integrate their spirituality in the workplace

This study aimed to develop an instrument to measure the extent to which social workers perceive that they integrate spirituality in the workplace. Input from a focus group, individual interviews, and expert judges led to a preliminary scale entitled the Integration of Spirituality in the Workplace (ISWS). The ISWS was then field tested with a non-probability sample of 574 social workers. After factor analysis and subsequent factor refinement, the ISWS was reduced to a final 21-item version comprised of three subscales: (a) Spirituality\u27s Support of Persons at Work; (b) the Role of Spiritual Beliefs and Values in Integration; and (c) the Role of the Workplace/Work in Integration. The ISWS and its three subscales demonstrated strong internal consistency and test-retest reliability. In addition: (a) positive correlations with two subscales of the Ashmos Duchon Spirituality Scale provided evidence for the convergent validity of the ISWS; (b) a negative correlation with the Tsahuridu Organisational Anomie Scale provided evidence for the discriminant validity of the ISWS; and (c) the absence of a significant correlation with the Crowne-Marlowe Social Desirability Scale provided evidence that the ISWS was not significantly influenced by social desirability bias. Relationships between ISWS scale scores and gender, age, religious affiliation, level of spirituality, and work for a faith-based organization were found to be significant. This study provides promising evidence that the ISWS and its three subscales provide reliable, valid measures of social workers\u27 perceptions regarding the degree to which that they integrate spirituality in the workplace