Being a Target of Gossip
HR & WorkReliability: alpha 0.943 sample items
About this scale
A multi-item measure of perceived exposure to negative gossip — believing coworkers spread rumors or talk negatively about oneself.
Sample item(s)
“Coworkers have spread rumours about me”
“Others at work talk about me in negative ways behind my back”
“I have heard that coworkers are gossiping about me”
Reliability
Reported internal consistency: alpha 0.94. As a rule of thumb, Cronbach’s α ≥ .70 is considered acceptable, ≥ .80 good, and ≥ .90 excellent for established measures.
Notes
Companion to workplace gossip perpetration.
Source & citation
Chandra, G., & Robinson, S. L. (2010): They're talking about me again: The impact of being the target of gossip on emotional distress and withdrawal. Academy of Management Annual Meeting Proceedings.
Source. Scale details are summarised from the publication cited above. Always consult the original source for the full item set, scoring, and permission to use.
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