Dimensions of Work Engagement: A Person-Oriented Perspective

AHRD 2017 poster that groups employees by their work engagement profiles with a latent class model and compares the groups.
Presentation & Talk
Poster
Published

January 1, 2017

Keywords

work engagement, latent class analysis, person-oriented approach, human resource development

Overview

This poster, with Dae Seok Chai, takes a person-oriented view of work engagement. Most engagement research is variable-oriented and treats differences between individuals as random. We asked instead how individuals can be grouped by the sub-dimensions of engagement, what characterizes each group, and whether the groups respond differently on outcome variables.

The study used a secondary dataset collected in 2007-2008 from 13 departments in nine organizations in the United States. A latent class model was fitted to the engagement sub-dimensions, and linear regression was used to compare the classes on outcomes.

Key points

  • Model selection (entropy, AIC, BIC) favored a five-class solution.
  • The classes were a low-engaged group, a moderately engaged group, a highly engaged group, a highly engaged group with relatively low vigor, and a second-highest engaged group.
  • The regression slopes on outcome variables differed across the groups.
  • People structure the dimensions of engagement differently, so interventions meant to raise engagement should take these profiles into account when they are designed, implemented, and evaluated.

Event

AHRD 2017 (poster session).

Citation

Chae, C., & Chai, D. S. (2017). Dimensions of work engagement: A person-oriented perspective. Poster presented at AHRD 2017.