PS dataset — variable definitions

Variable definitions, response scales, source citations

Author
Affiliation

George Michaelides

Norwich Business School, University of East Anglia

Published

July 7, 2026

This page documents the variables in the ps_data_reduced teaching dataset, their response scales, and the original source citations for each scale. The dataset is a simulated teaching file used throughout this tutorial series; it is not real participant data.

The dataset ships in two formats in the data/ folder:

Dimensions: 343 rows (participants) × 25 columns (variables). Missing values are coded as -99 in both file formats.

Job control

Six items measuring autonomy and control over how work is conducted.

Item Wording Response scale
con1 In the past week, were you able to choose how you do your job? 1 = Never, 2, 3, 4, 5 = Very often
con3 In the past week, were you able to decide when to do particular work activities? 1 = Never, 2, 3, 4, 5 = Very often
con6 In the past week, could you control the sequencing of your work activities? 1 = Never, 2, 3, 4, 5 = Very often
con8 In the past week, were you able to decide how to get your job done? 1 = Never, 2, 3, 4, 5 = Very often
con9 In the past week, did you have some control over what you are supposed to accomplish? 1 = Never, 2, 3, 4, 5 = Very often
con10 In the past week, were you able to modify your job objectives? 1 = Never, 2, 3, 4, 5 = Very often

Source: Adapted from Breaugh (1985), The measurement of work autonomy, Human Relations, 38, 551–570.

Workplace social support

Four items measuring the availability of supportive colleagues.

Item Wording Response scale
sup2 In the past week, could you talk to people at work to decide what to do about work problems? 1 = Never, 2, 3, 4, 5 = Very often
sup4 In the past week, could you rely on other people at work when things get tough? 1 = Never, 2, 3, 4, 5 = Very often
sup5 In the past week, were you able to seek advice from other people about work problems? 1 = Never, 2, 3, 4, 5 = Very often
sup7 In the past week, could you confide in other people at work? 1 = Never, 2, 3, 4, 5 = Very often

Source: Adapted from Daniels (2000), Measures of five aspects of affective well-being at work, Human Relations, 53, 275–294.

Problem-solving demands

Four items measuring the cognitive demands of solving novel problems at work.

Item Wording Response scale
prob1 In the past week, did you have to solve problems that had no obvious or correct answer? 1 = Never, 2, 3, 4, 5 = Very often
prob2 In the past week, did you have to deal with problems you had not met before? 1 = Never, 2, 3, 4, 5 = Very often
prob3 In the past week, did your job require unique ideas or solutions to problems? 1 = Never, 2, 3, 4, 5 = Very often
prob4 In the past week, did you have to deal with issues without an obvious solution? 1 = Never, 2, 3, 4, 5 = Very often

Source: Adapted from Morgeson & Humphrey (2006), The Work Design Questionnaire (WDQ), Journal of Applied Psychology, 91, 1321–1339.

Creativity

Three items measuring the generation of ideas that improve work.

Item Wording Response scale
creat1 In the past week, how often did you have ideas that could improve your work performance? 1 = Never, 2, 3, 4, 5 = Very often
creat2 In the past week, how often did you have ideas that could help you deal with difficult issues more efficiently? 1 = Never, 2, 3, 4, 5 = Very often
creat3 In the past week, how often do you have ideas that could help you solve work problems more quickly? 1 = Never, 2, 3, 4, 5 = Very often

Source: Adapted from Daniels, Wimalasiri, Cheyne, & Story (2011), Linking the Demands-Control-Support Model to innovation, Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 84, 581–598.

Negative affect

Three items measuring negative emotional states at work.

Item Wording Response scale
na1 Thinking about your work in this past week, how much of the time has your job made you feel worried? 1 = Never, 2 = Occasionally, 3 = Some of the time, 4 = Much of the time, 5 = Most of the time, 6 = All of the time
na2 Thinking about your work in this past week, how much of the time has your job made you feel tense? 1 = Never, 2 = Occasionally, 3 = Some of the time, 4 = Much of the time, 5 = Most of the time, 6 = All of the time
na3 Thinking about your work in this past week, how much of the time has your job made you feel anxious? 1 = Never, 2 = Occasionally, 3 = Some of the time, 4 = Much of the time, 5 = Most of the time, 6 = All of the time

Source: Adapted from Daniels (2000), Measures of five aspects of affective well-being at work, Human Relations, 53, 275–294.

Positive affect

Three items measuring positive emotional states at work.

Item Wording Response scale
pa1 Thinking about your work in this past week, how much of the time has your job made you feel motivated? 1 = Never, 2 = Occasionally, 3 = Some of the time, 4 = Much of the time, 5 = Most of the time, 6 = All of the time
pa2 Thinking about your work in this past week, how much of the time has your job made you feel optimistic? 1 = Never, 2 = Occasionally, 3 = Some of the time, 4 = Much of the time, 5 = Most of the time, 6 = All of the time
pa3 Thinking about your work in this past week, how much of the time has your job made you feel enthusiastic? 1 = Never, 2 = Occasionally, 3 = Some of the time, 4 = Much of the time, 5 = Most of the time, 6 = All of the time

Source: Adapted from Daniels (2000), Measures of five aspects of affective well-being at work, Human Relations, 53, 275–294.

Demographics

Variable Coding
gender 0 = Male, 1 = Female, 3 = Other / prefer not to say
age 1 = 25 or under, 2 = 26–35, 3 = 36–45, 4 = 46–55, 5 = 56 or over, 6 = Other / prefer not to say

Note on the dataset

This is a simulated teaching dataset originally created by Kevin Daniels (University of East Anglia) for use in the Mplus-based version of this module. The variable structure and response scales follow the published sources cited above, but the individual observations are not real participant data. You can freely use, redistribute, and modify the dataset for teaching purposes.