Validation of the Scale of Perceived Overqualification (SPOQ) in the Chinese Context

Abstract

The present research aimed to validate the Chinese version of the Scale of Perceived Overqualification (SPOQ), which assesses employees' perceptions of possessing more knowledge, skills, and abilities than their job requires. A preliminary meta-analytic review highlighted the need to evaluate the SPOQ's psychometric properties in different cultural contexts. In Study 1, exploratory factor analysis supported a single-factor structure of the SPOQ-Chinese version, and test–retest analysis confirmed its stability over a 2-week interval. In Study 2, confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated a good model fit, further verifying the scale's structural validity. Criterion-related validity was also supported, with significant correlations between perceived overqualification and relevant job-related and career-related variables. Overall, our findings suggest the SPOQ-Chinese version is an appropriate measure of perceived overqualification among Chinese employees.

Keywords

Chinese full-time employees / factor analysis / perceived overqualification / scale validation / test–retest reliability

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