Development of an Instrument to Measure Cultural Attitudes and Behaviors Affecting Vocational Rehabilitation

Abstract

The Individualism-Collectivism Vocational Attitudes Questionnaire (ICVAQ) was developed to assess cultural attitudes and behaviors that may be important in the provision of vocational rehabilitation services to people with disabilities from diverse cultural backgrounds. The theoretical basis for the instrument was a four-factor model specifying horizontal and vertical (H/V) manifestations of individualism and collectivism (I/C). The instrument was completed by samples of college students in the United States and Guatemala, along with two other instruments measuring I/C. Factor analysis resulted in the identification of four factors that corresponded to the four I/C-H/V types, which were defined as instrument subscales, and coefficient alpha reliability estimates ranged from the .50s to .70s for the four subscales. Validity was examined through analysis of differences in ICVAQ scores according to U.S. culture versus Guatemalan culture and socioeconomic status and through correlations with two other more established measures of I/C. Results were mixed but provided some support for the reliability and validity of the ICVAQ.