The stability of the factor structure of a scale of organizational climate of 66 items was investigated. A sample of 61,349 respondents was randomly divided in two parts, the first to identify the factor structure, the second to verify its replicability. The criterion used to identify the number of factors resulted in the retention of seven factors. To obtain a satisfactory factor structure 23 items were excluded. A second factor analysis of the remaining 43 items indicated seven factors explaining 63.4% of the variance. Second-order factor analysis revealed one general factor accounting for 55.5% of the variance. To investigate the stability of the factor structure the same procedures and criteria were used with the second sample. The results indicate a high stability of the hierarchical factor structure of the scale of organizational climate consisting of seven first-order factors and one general second-order factor.
cross validation; factor analysis; construct validity; hierarchical factor structure; organizational climate
