Perceived Job Characteristics Scale – PJCS
Measures subjective job characteristics across four dimensions: task variety, decision autonomy, mental demands, and social interaction.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Perceived Job Characteristics Scale – PJCS was developed by H. Benninghaus (1987). It is designed to measure Perceived job characteristics. The scale is intended for use with Working adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 25 items organized into 4 factors/subscales: Skill Variety, Decision Latitude, Job Stressors, Interaction.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Skill Variety | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 | 10 |
| Decision Latitude | 11,12,13,14,15,16 | 6 |
| Job Stressors | 17,18,19,20,21,22 | 6 |
| Interaction | 23,24,25 | 3 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 (4-point items) = To a high degree, 4 (4-point items) = Not at all, 1 (7-point items) = To a very low degree / No, not true, 4 (7-point items) = To a moderate degree / Partly, 7 (7-point items) = To a very high degree / Yes, exactly true.
The scale includes 2 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Cronbach's Alpha: Skill Variety = .86, Decision Latitude = .80, Job Stressors = .82, Interaction = .84.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 8 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.