Help-Seeking Behaviour (Hofmann, Lei & Grant)
HR & WorkReliability: alpha 0.863 sample items
About this scale
A multi-item measure of help-seeking behaviour at work — proactive request for assistance from coworkers or supervisors when facing difficulty. Predicts learning and performance but is moderated by status concerns.
Sample item(s)
“I ask coworkers for help when I am unsure about how to do something.”
“When I encounter a problem, I usually ask others how to handle it.”
“I avoid asking for help even when I need it. (reverse)”
Reliability
Reported internal consistency: alpha 0.86. As a rule of thumb, Cronbach’s α ≥ .70 is considered acceptable, ≥ .80 good, and ≥ .90 excellent for established measures.
Notes
Strong target effects (asking up vs. across vs. down) — specify referent in instructions.
Source & citation
Hofmann, D. A., Lei, Z., & Grant, A. M. (2009): Seeking help in the shadow of doubt: The sensemaking processes underlying how nurses decide whom to ask for advice. Journal of Applied Psychology, Vol. 94, No. 5, pp. 1261–1274.
Hofmann, Lei & Grant (2009): Help seeking. JAP, 94(5), 1261–1274.
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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