Job Search Behaviour (Blau)
HR & WorkReliability: Preparatory alpha 0.84; Active alpha 0.833 sample items
About this scale
A 12-item measure of job-search behaviour with two factors: preparatory (passive information gathering) and active (concrete job-seeking actions). Foundational measure in unemployment and turnover research.
Sample item(s)
“Read a book or article about getting a job or changing jobs. (preparatory)”
“Sent out résumés to potential employers. (active)”
“Filled out a job application. (active)”
Reliability
Reported internal consistency: Preparatory alpha 0.84; Active alpha 0.83. As a rule of thumb, Cronbach’s α ≥ .70 is considered acceptable, ≥ .80 good, and ≥ .90 excellent for established measures.
Notes
Most cited two-factor job-search measure.
Source & citation
Blau, G. (1994): Testing a two-dimensional measure of job search behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Vol. 59, No. 2, pp. 288–312.
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.
Use it in your research
Need to check the reliability or psychometrics of this scale in your own data? Use the free DrAIStudio research tools:
Cronbach’s alpha calculator
All statistical calculators
Search the full Scale Atlas
Academic writing humanizer