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Quality of Work Life: Theoretical and Methodological Problems, and Presentation of a New Model and Measuring Instrument

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Abstract

Purpose: Ever since the concept of Quality of Work Life (QWL) was first used over 30 years ago, a range of definitions and theoretical constructs have succeeded each other with the aim of mitigating the many problems facing the concept. A historical overview of the concept of QWL is presented here. Given the lack of consensus concerning the solutions that have been developed to date, a new definition of QWL is suggested, inspired by the research on a related concept, general Quality of Life (QOL) which, as the literature shows, has faced the same conceptualization and definition problems as QWL. Based on the suggested definition of QOL, a definition of QWL is provided and the measuring instrument that results therefrom (the Quality of Working Life Systemic Inventory – QWLSI) is presented. Finally, the solutions that this model and measuring instrument provide for the above-mentioned problems are discussed.

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  1. Dept. De Psychologie, Université du Québec à Montréal, Succursale Centre V, Montréal, Québec, Canada, H3C 3P8

    Jean-Pierre Martel & Gilles Dupuis

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  1. Jean-Pierre Martel
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  2. Gilles Dupuis
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Correspondence to Gilles Dupuis.

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Martel, JP., Dupuis, G. Quality of Work Life: Theoretical and Methodological Problems, and Presentation of a New Model and Measuring Instrument. Soc Indic Res 77, 333–368 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-004-5368-4

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