A Riddle, Wrapped in a Mystery, Inside an Enigma … or Just Multidimensional? Testing the Multidimensional Structure of Boredom

Abstract

The multidimensional structure of boredom poses unique measurement challenges related to scale length and statistical modeling. We systematically address these concerns in two studies. In Study 1, we use item response theory to shorten the 29-item Multidimensional State Boredom Scale (MSBS) (Fahlman et al., 2013). In Study 2, we use structural equation modeling to compare two theoretically consistent multidimensional structures of boredom (superordinate and multivariate) with the most commonly used, yet theoretically inconsistent, structure in boredom research (unidimensional parallel model). Our findings provide support for modeling boredom as multidimensional and demonstrate the impact of model selection on effect sizes and significance.

Citation

Baratta, P.L. and Spence, J.R. (2015), "A Riddle, Wrapped in a Mystery, Inside an Enigma … or Just Multidimensional? Testing the Multidimensional Structure of Boredom", New Ways of Studying Emotions in Organizations (Research on Emotion in Organizations, Vol. 11), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 139-172. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1746-979120150000011007