Description

The Work-Specific Control Problems Scale (WSCPS-17) is an instrument designed to assess difficulties related to employees’ perceived control over different aspects of their work. It focuses on the extent to which individuals feel able to influence working conditions, decisions, procedures, time management, and other factors that shape their daily work experience.

Limited perceived control at work is an important dimension of the occupational environment and may be associated with greater job strain, reduced autonomy, lower job satisfaction, and poorer psychological well-being.

Aim

The primary aim of the WSCPS-17 is to identify specific areas in which employees experience limited control or influence over their work.

Assessment of these difficulties can help reveal organizational conditions that restrict autonomy, participation in decision-making, or the ability to manage work demands effectively. The findings may also support the development of interventions aimed at improving work organization, employee participation, and overall working conditions.

Analysis and Use of Data

The WSCPS-17 examines several aspects of perceived work control, including autonomy in performing tasks, influence over decisions, management of working time, and the ability to deal with work-related problems.

The resulting data can be analyzed in relation to variables such as occupational stress, burnout, job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and psychological well-being. The scale may also be used to compare different occupational groups or organizational settings.

Scoring

The scale consists of 17 items, typically rated on a 5-point Likert-type scale ranging from 1 = “Not at all” to 5 = “Very much.”

According to this scoring approach, higher scores indicate greater control-related problems or a stronger sense of limited control at work, whereas lower scores reflect fewer perceived difficulties.

Interpretation should take into account the employee’s occupational role, organizational environment, job demands, and actual degree of autonomy within the workplace.

References

Karasek, R. A. (1979). Job demands, job decision latitude, and mental strain: Implications for job redesign. Administrative Science Quarterly, 24(2), 285–308.

Karasek, R. A., & Theorell, T. (1990). Healthy work: Stress, productivity, and the reconstruction of working life. Basic Books.

Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, appraisal, and coping. Springer Publishing Company.

Spector, P. E. (1988). Development of the Work Locus of Control Scale. Journal of Occupational Psychology, 61(4), 335–340.