Testing the Reliability and Validity of the Solution-Focused vs Problem-Focused Communication Scale in a Workplace Setting

Abstract

This paper aims to develop a reliable and valid scale for measuring solution-focused and problem-focused communication that can be easily applied in the Japanese workplace. A two-factor scale for measuring solution-focus and problem-focus has already been proposed by Kitai (2020), in which reliability and validity were confirmed. However, this was based on a relatively small sample (N=183) study; the data were collected from a single company and thus had high internal homogeneity. The current study tested the reliability and validity of this scale using data from an online questionnaire with over 500 respondents drawn from many companies. The results of this assessment are used to develop an effective scale for studying solution-focus and problem-focus in the workplace.