Equity Sensitivity: Construction of a Measure and Examination of Its Psychometric Properties

Despite suffering from content ambiguity, a sample-specific scoring procedure, and the inappropriate use of cut scores, the Equity Sensitivity Instrument (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 systematic item-development procedures that are crucial in both constructing a reliable 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 Preference Questionnaire (EPQ) occurred in six studies. Two pilot studies were initially conducted to purify the EPQ and assess its reliability. Two validity assessment studies were then undertaken to examine the EPQ’s construct validity. A laboratory experiment was performed next to determine the EPQ’s validity for predicting satisfaction with different reward conditions. Finally, a test-retest reliability study was conducted to provide evidence regarding the consistency of the measurements yielded by the EPQ across time. Possible study limitations aside, the EPQ seems to be both psychometrically sound and useful for advancing equity sensitivity research. Various areas in equity sensitivity research that merit further examination are also addressed.