Sink or Swim: Developing an Alternative Measure of Employee Socialization

Organizational socialization is a crucial moment during employment, as employees learn the skills and behaviours needed to be successful in a new role. Researchers have historically relied on the organizational socialization tactics (OST) scale created by Jones (1986) to assess this phenomenon, despite its limitations. This research aimed to create an alternative measure of socialization focused on an employee’s perceptions of sink or swim, made up of the 3-factors: responsibility, effectiveness, and support. Study 1 used the academic literature and data from an industry survey to generate an initial item pool and then used subject matter experts (SMEs) to run a content validation assessment. Study 2 used a longitudinal survey design with two waves to assess the factor structure, psychometric properties, and predictive validity of the scale. The 3-factor structure was supported through an EFA and confirmed with a subsequent CFA and the refined scale indicated acceptable levels of construct validity and test-retest reliability. The predictive validity of the scale was supported through a series of regression analyses across separate employment outcomes. Overall, the finalized 17-item Sink or Swim Scale (SSS) demonstrated that it is a valid, practical, and shorter alternative to the OST scale. The subdivision of support also demonstrated the potential to act as a standalone measure of an employee’s socialization experience. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10672-023-09457-2.