Development and Psychometric Validation of a Workplace Social Capital Scale for Low and Middle Income Settings in Pakistan

Workplace social capital has been linked to organizational and social sustainability. The study aims to investigate workplace social capital as a measurable construct, maintaining theoretical depth while allowing for valid and reliable assessment across the low-to middle-income workplace context of Pakistan. In the first phase of the study, we followed a mixed methods approach (inductive & deductive) to formulate 30 items. A 22-item measure of workplace social capital scale was developed in the Urdu language. In the second phase, we established psychometric properties of the measure by determining and confirming its factor structure, as well as computing convergent and discriminant validity and reliability. An Exploration Factor Analysis (EFA) conducted on a sample of 150 participants revealed a three-factor solution with 18 items, followed by a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) on a separate sample ( N  = 308). Acceptable fit indices were obtained for a final 12-item three-factor model, i.e., Vertical Trust and Organizational Value, Cohesive Work Climate, and Interpersonal Support, showing good reliability ( α  = .85). A significant positive correlation between scores of the Workplace Social Capital Scale (WSCS) and Resilience at Work Scale and significant inverse correlation with psychological distress indicated convergent and discriminant validity respectively. Lastly, significant differences between comparable samples from vulnerable (62 caregivers of patients with mental illness) and the general population on WSCS scores reflected known-groups validity. Findings support using the WSCS as a brief, yet psychometrically sound and valuable tool for assessing social resources in workplace settings of the Pakistani general and vulnerable populations.