Hypothesis Support: Higher Order Common Constructs 170

It was hypothesised that various groups of measures would together have the properties of higher order constructs. These hypotheses were developed based on empirical support for previous studies and theoretical arguments (Chapter 4). The hypothesis dealing with the existence properties representing higher order constructs (Hypothesis 1, 2 & 3) found support in this thesis. Overall, the higher order CFA found that the selected measures represented the higher order construct of emotional engagement capabilities (partially), cognitive engagement capabilities and individual engagement outcomes. Robustness of each of these common underlying constructs was established through calibration/validation testing and the use of an alpha weighted model (where λ and θ are calculated using the Cronbach Alpha and fixed on the

model). Robustness was further established with a simple and default higher order CFA on the calibration sample, the results of which are presented in Appendix A2.

Table 6-24 Hypothesis Support Summary

Number Hypothesis Support

H1 The measures of meaningfulness, availability, psychological safety, psychological capabilities and vigour together have shared variance which have the properties of a higher order construct: emotional engagement capabilities.

Partial Support

Safety not tested, and Meaningfulness in calibration sample not significant.

H2 The measures of attention, absorption, dedication, job involvement and intrinsic motivation together have shared variance which will have the properties of a higher order construct: cognitive engagement capabilities.

Supported H3 The measures of affective commitment, job satisfaction,

intention to quit, disengagement and exhaustion together have shared variance which will have the properties of a higher order construct: individual engagement outcomes.

Supported H4 a : Emotional engagement capabilities will have a positive

effect on the individual engagement outcomes.

Supported b : Cognitive engagement capabilities will have a positive

effect on the individual engagement capabilities.

Partial Support

Non significant path in the Validation sample c : Cognitive engagement capabilities have a positive effect

on the emotional engagement capabilities. Supported d: Cognitive engagement capabilities will have an indirect

effect on the individual engagement outcomes as mediated through emotional engagement capabilities.

Supported

Stronger effect in the validation sample H5 The individual engagement capabilities (emotional and

cognitive engagement capabilities) will have a positive effect on the individual engagement outcomes.

Supported H6 a : POS will have a direct positive effect on emotional

engagement capabilities.

Partial Support

Not supported in the Calibration Sample b : POS will have a direct positive effect on cognitive

engagement capabilities.

Partial Support

Not supported in the Validation Sample c : POS will have a direct positive effect on individual

engagement outcomes.

Supported H7 a : Job characteristics will have a direct positive effect on

emotional engagement capabilities.

Not Supported b : Job characteristics will have a direct positive effect on

cognitive engagement capabilities.

Supported c : Job characteristics will have a direct positive effect on

individual engagement outcomes.

Supported H8 The job characteristics will have a positive effect on POS Supported H9 a: Gender will have a direct effect on POS and an indirect

effect on the engagement capabilities and outcomes.

Not Supported b: Gender will have a direct effect on the job characteristics

and an indirect effect on the engagement capabilities and outcomes.

Not Supported H10 a: Age group will have a direct effect on POS and an indirect

effect on the engagement capabilities and outcomes.

Not Supported b: Age group will have a direct effect on the job

characteristics and an indirect effect on the engagement capabilities and outcomes.

Not Supported H11 a: Academic lecturer level will have a direct effect on POS

and an indirect effect on the engagement capabilities and outcomes.

Not Supported b: Academic lecturer level will have a direct effect on the job

characteristics and an indirect effect on the engagement capabilities and outcomes.

Partial Support

No support in the Calibration Sample H12 a: Group of Eight universities will have a direct effect on

POS and an indirect effect on the engagement capabilities and outcomes.

Not Supported b: Group of Eight universities will have a direct effect on the

job characteristics and an indirect effect on the engagement capabilities and outcomes.

Supported

As noted there was consensual support between both of the samples for both the cognitive engagement capabilities and individual engagement outcomes as common underlying constructs.

Cognitive engagement capabilities were found to have the properties representative of higher order construct that encompassed the measures of attention, absorption, dedication, job involvement and intrinsic motivation. This means that academics will require all these characteristics to be able to have the cognitive capabilities to engage. In addition the individual engagement outcomes was found to also have the characteristics of a higher order construct consisting of the variables affective commitment, job satisfaction, intention to quit (reversed), disengagement (reversed) and exhaustion (reversed). The individual engagement outcomes are recognised in these measures.

There was only partial support for the emotional engagement capabilities as a common underlying construct, the calibration model held when using the Bollen Stein correction for non- normality and with a co-varied residual variance (meaningfulness and vigour). The measure of meaningfulness did not meet the required minimum 0.5 regression weight, suggesting that meaningfulness once co varied with vigour was not a significant predictor. In the validation sample this did not hold for this sample and the model provided was over fitted. Therefore the path between the co-varied residual was deleted. The model fit, when correcting for non- normality. All the measures had significant regression paths with the latent construct. It was deemed appropriate to keep the validation model for the benefit of the overall research and consider this result when considering the dimensions within the model. Partial support for emotional engagement capabilities was attained meaningfulness, vigour, psychological capabilities and availability.