Manifest Needs Questionnaire – MNQ
Measures four of Murray's manifest needs (achievement, affiliation, autonomy, and dominance) within 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 Manifest Needs (Achievement, Affiliation, Autonomy, Dominance). The scale is intended for use with Employees and management professionals.
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 | 2,6,10,14,18 | 5 |
| Autonomy | 3,7,11,15,19 | 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: 5 – 15
- Moderate Need: 16 – 25
- High Need: 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.