Workplace Gossip Scale
HR & WorkReliability: alpha 0.913 sample items
About this scale
A 10-item measure of negative workplace gossip — informal, unverified, evaluative talk about absent third parties. Predicts trust loss and exclusion.
Sample item(s)
“I have been the target of negative gossip at work”
“Coworkers have spread rumors about me”
“Others at work talk negatively about me when I'm not present”
Reliability
Reported internal consistency: alpha 0.91. As a rule of thumb, Cronbach’s α ≥ .70 is considered acceptable, ≥ .80 good, and ≥ .90 excellent for established measures.
Notes
Pair with workplace incivility and ostracism.
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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