Behavioural Assessment of Interpersonal Conflict in Industry: Development of the Interpersonal Conflict Scale

Abstract

A two-factor approach toward the measurement of interpersonal conflict, incorporating dimensions of conflict resolution and conflict provocation, is proposed. The development of the Interpersonal Conflict Scale, a behaviourally based, self- or subordinate-rated measure of interpersonal conflict, is described. Factor analysis on a sample of 304 industrial supervisors yielded two subscales, a 10-item Resolution subscale and a 15-item Provocation subscale. Satisfactory internal and temporal consistency coefficients were recorded for the supervisor sample and two employee samples ( N = 172 and 20). Also, the two conflict scales correlated significantly and in the predicted directions with measures of confrontational supervisory style, satisfaction with supervision, role conflict and quality of supervisor-subordinate role exchange. No significant correlations were found between either the Resolution and Provocation subscales and a measure of social desirability. Future implications for use of the scale are discussed.