Perceived Job Characteristics Scale – PJCS
Measures subjective job characteristics across four dimensions: skill variety, decision latitude, job stressors, 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 = To a high degree / No, not true / Low degree (depending on item), 4 = Not at all / Partly / Moderate degree (depending on item), 7 = Yes, exactly true / Very high degree (depending on item).
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 = .80 – .86.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.