Scale Analysis

The Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ) was developed in 1967 by Weiss, Dawis, England, and Lofquist.

Purpose

The Minnesota Job Satisfaction Questionnaire was created to investigate the extent to which employees are satisfied or dissatisfied with their current job. It takes into account twenty dimensions, including relationships with colleagues, promotion, salary, relationships with supervisors, job security, achievement, recognition, responsibility, organizational policy, creativity, variety, autonomy, authority, social status, utilization of skills, moral values, social service, working conditions, technical support, and activity level.

Question Scoring

The MSQ has two formats: a long version containing 100 questions and a shorter version containing 20 questions. Both versions include questions covering approximately 20 areas of job satisfaction and are answered using a five-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (Very Satisfied) to 5 (Very Dissatisfied).

Statistical Analysis

Scores for each dimension are calculated in the 100-question version. The short version is used to assess either overall job satisfaction or intrinsic and extrinsic satisfaction. Intrinsic satisfaction refers to the nature of work tasks and how individuals feel about the job they do. Extrinsic satisfaction refers to other aspects of working conditions, such as fringe benefits and salary. Both intrinsic and extrinsic satisfaction consist of a combination of various areas. Weiss et al. (1967) proposed that a percentile score below 25 indicates a low level of satisfaction, whereas a percentile score above 75 indicates a high level of satisfaction.

Validity and Reliability

Several studies on the short version of the MSQ have shown that the reliability indices are satisfactory across all three dimensions. In terms of validity, the questionnaire demonstrates good relevance. It is considered a useful tool for organizations seeking to explore employees’ needs for professional development.

References

Authors: Weiss, D. J., Dawis, R. V., England, G. W., & Lofquist, L. H.
Keywords: Job Satisfaction Questionnaire, Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire, MSQ-20 and MSQ-100, Job Satisfaction, Questionnaire Analysis