Organizational climate: A review of theory and research

Abstract

Previous organizational climate research, definitions, and measurement approaches are reviewed and differentiated into 3 categories: a multiple measurement-organizational attribute approach, a perceptual measurement-organizational attribute approach, and a perceptual measurement-individual attribute approach. Similarities and differences between these approaches are discussed in an attempt to address a number of theoretical and psychometric concerns. A major focus is the extent to which organizational climate duplicates other organizational and individual domains. Recommendations for future research include a rationale for differentiating between organizational climate and psychological or individual climate, and an emphasis upon the distinction between level of measurement and level of explanation as related to future definitions of climate. (52 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1974 American Psychological Association.