Manifest Needs Questionnaire – MNQ
Measures four of Murray's manifest needs (achievement, affiliation, autonomy, and dominance) in work settings.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Manifest Needs Questionnaire – MNQ was developed by Richard M. Steers and Daniel N. Braunstein (1976). It is designed to measure Workplace Manifest Needs. The scale is intended for use with Adults / Employees.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 20 items organized into 4 factors/subscales: Achievement, Affiliation, Autonomy, Dominance.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Achievement | 1,5,9,13,17 | 5 |
| Affiliation | 2,6,10,15,18 | 5 |
| Autonomy | 3,7,11,14,19 | 5 |
| Dominance | 4,8,12,16,20 | 5 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Never, 2 = Almost Never, 3 = Seldom, 4 = Sometimes, 5 = Usually, 6 = Almost Always, 7 = Always.
The scale includes 5 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 5 to 35. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Need Strength: 5 – 15
- Moderate Need Strength: 16 – 25
- High Need Strength: 26 – 35
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Cronbach's alpha: Achievement (0.66), Affiliation (0.56), Autonomy (0.61), Dominance (0.83).
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.