Job Descriptive Index – JDI
Measures job satisfaction across specific facets of work and overall job satisfaction.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Job Descriptive Index – JDI was developed by Patricia C. Smith, Lorne M. Kendall, Charles L. Hulin (1969). It is designed to measure Job Satisfaction. The scale is intended for use with Working adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 18 items organized into 6 factors/subscales: Work on Present Job, Supervision, Present Pay, Coworkers, Opportunities for Promotion, Job in General.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Work on Present Job | 1,2,3 | 3 |
| Supervision | 4,5,6 | 3 |
| Present Pay | 7,8,9 | 3 |
| Coworkers | 10,11,12 | 3 |
| Opportunities for Promotion | 13,14,15 | 3 |
| Job in General | 16,17,18 | 3 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: Y = Yes, ? = Cannot decide, N = No.
The scale includes 10 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 0 to 9. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Satisfaction: 0 – 3
- Moderate Satisfaction: 4 – 6
- High Satisfaction: 7 – 9
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of 0.80 – 0.88.
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.