Using single-item measures for construct measurement in management research Conceptual issues and application guidelines

Abstract

<p style="text-align: left">The use of single-item measures in management research has been subject to heavy debate in recent literature. This paper provides researchers with concrete guidelines on how to assess the extent to which a single-item measure can be legitimately used to operationalize the focal construct. We first present a conceptual perspective on single-item measures and follow this by an integrative framework within which the potential acceptability of single-item measures can be comprehensively evaluated on multiple relevant criteria.