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An analysis of Meyer and Allen's continuance commitment construct

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 June 2014

Stephen Jaros  and
Robert A. Culpepper
Stephen Jaros
Affiliation:
Department of Management and Marketing, College of Business, Southern University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
Robert A. Culpepper*
Affiliation:
Department of Management, Marketing, & International Business, Stephen F. Austin State University, TX, USA
*
Corresponding author: rculpepper@sfasu.edu
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Abstract

Researchers have disagreed recurrently over the years concerning the nature of continuance commitment as developed within the Meyer and Allen paradigm, specifically whether continuance commitment consists of ‘high sacrifices’ and ‘low alternatives’ subdimensions. To address this, Edward's analytical strategy was used to examine continuance commitment as having superordinate, aggregate, or multivariate structural forms. Results suggest that (1) continuance commitment is not a multidimensional construct, (2) that the ‘high sacrifices’ subscale alone taps continuance commitment, and (3) the ‘low alternatives’ subscale measures neither continuance commitment nor perceived employment alternatives. Implications for further exploration of the continuance commitment construct are discussed.

Keywords

analysis techniquesstructural equation modelingcountry or area StudiesUnited StatescommitmentHuman Resource Management (HRM)
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Management & Organization , Volume 20 , Issue 1 , January 2014 , pp. 79 - 99
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management 2014 

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