Perceived Autonomy Support: The Climate Questionnaires

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Download the complete packet for the Climate Questionnaires in a Word file

The Work Climate Questionnaire (WCQ)

The WCQ has a long form containing 15 items and a short form containing 6 of the items. The questionnaire is typically used with respect to specific work settings, such as teams or work groups that have one manager, and the wording can be changed slightly to specify the particular situation being studied. In these cases, the questions pertain to the autonomy support of the respondent's manager. If, however, the WCQ is being used to assess a general work climate that goes beyond a particular work group, the questions are stated with respect to the autonomy support in general of the managers of that company, department, or organization. Below, you will find the 15-item version of the questionnaire, worded in terms of "my manager" (or supervisor). If you would like to use the 6-item version, simply reconstitute the questionnaire using only items # 1, 2, 4, 7, 10 and 14.

Scoring: Scores on both the 15-item version and the 6-item version are calculated by averaging the individual item scores. However, for the long version, before averaging the item scores, you must first "reverse" the score of item 13 (i.e., subtract the score on item 13 from 8 and use the result as the item score for this item--for example, the score of 3, when reversed would become5). Higher average scores represent a higher level of perceived autonomy support.

Work Climate Questionnaire

This questionnaire contains items that are related to your experience with the manager who is your most immediate supervisor. Managers have different styles in dealing with employees, and we would like to know more about how you have felt about your encounters with your manager. Your responses are confidential. Please be honest and candid.

1. I feel that my manager provides me choices and options.
   
   

   1	2	3	4	5	6	7
   strongly disagree		neutral			strongly agree

   
   
2. I feel understood by my manager.
   
   

   1	2	3	4	5	6	7
   strongly disagree		neutral			strongly agree

   
   
3. I am able to be open with my manager at work.
   
   

   1	2	3	4	5	6	7
   strongly disagree		neutral			strongly agree

   
   
4. My manager conveyed confidence in my ability to do well at my job.
   
   

   1	2	3	4	5	6	7
   strongly disagree		neutral			strongly agree

   
   
5. I feel that my manager accepts me.
   
   

   1	2	3	4	5	6	7
   strongly disagree		neutral			strongly agree

   
   
6. My manager made sure I really understood the goals of my job and what I need to do.
   
   

   1	2	3	4	5	6	7
   strongly disagree		neutral			strongly agree

   
   
7. My manager encouraged me to ask questions.
   
   

   1	2	3	4	5	6	7
   strongly disagree		neutral			strongly agree

   
   
8. I feel a lot of trust in my manager.
   
   

   1	2	3	4	5	6	7
   strongly disagree		neutral			strongly agree

   
   
9. My manager answers my questions fully and carefully.
   
   

   1	2	3	4	5	6	7
   strongly disagree		neutral			strongly agree

   
   
10. My manager listens to how I would like to do things.
    
    

    1	2	3	4	5	6	7
    strongly disagree		neutral			strongly agree

    
    
11. My manager handles people's emotions very well.
    
    

    1	2	3	4	5	6	7
    strongly disagree		neutral			strongly agree

    
    
12. I feel that my manager cares about me as a person.
    
    

    1	2	3	4	5	6	7
    strongly disagree		neutral			strongly agree

    
    
13. I don't feel very good about the way my manager talks to me.
    
    

    1	2	3	4	5	6	7
    strongly disagree		neutral			strongly agree

    
    
14. My manager tries to understand how I see things before suggesting a new way to do things.
    
    

    1	2	3	4	5	6	7
    strongly disagree		neutral			strongly agree

    
    
15. I feel able to share my feelings with my manager.
    
    

    1	2	3	4	5	6	7
    strongly disagree		neutral			strongly agree

    
    

Articles that have Used the Work Climate Questionnaire

Baard, P. P., Deci, E. L., Ryan, R. M. (2004). Intrinsic need satisfaction: A motivational basis of performance and well-being in two work settings. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 34, 2045-2068.
Download this article in .pdf format (for Personal Use Only)

The WCQ as a rating device.

The WCQ was designed to be used by employees (or volunteers) to report their perceptions of their managers or supervisors. However, it can also be used for having trained observers rate the autonomy supportiveness of a manager or supervisor, based on listening to tape recorded interactions between managers and subordinates. This approach has not been used with the WCQ, but it has been used with the HCCQ. A description of its use can be found on the HCCQ page, and can be easily adapted if you would like to use the WCQ in this way.

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