Development and Validation of a Measure of Organizational Culture in Public Child Welfare Agencies

Abstract

Objective: To develop and explore the validity characteristics of a new measure of organizational culture in public child welfare agencies. Method: Multiple validation methods were used, including expert judgment and criterion-related validity procedures using a statewide sample of 1,033 child welfare caseworkers, supervisors, and administrators. Results: Principal components analyses identified seven measurement dimensions positively correlated with a criterion measure of intent to remain employed in child welfare. Regression analyses showed that four measurement dimensions accounted for 26% of the variation in the criterion measure. Conclusions: The validity evidence for this new measure supports its use in a variety of ways in child welfare practice and in continued research on organizational culture and in child welfare workforce and child outcomes research.