The social influence scale for midwifery: factor structure and clinical research applications

Hollins Martin, Caroline J.; Bull, Peter; Martin, Colin R.

Abstract

The role of perceived authority on the clinical behaviour and decision-making of midwives has received little research attention, largely due to the unavailability of a midwifery-specific measure of conformity. The current study investigated the factor structure of the social influence scale for midwifery (SIS-M), a recently developed measure of conformity designed specifically for use within midwifery practice. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that a four-factor model of conformity, comprising distinct dimensions of conformity, client control, personal control and non-conformity offered an excellent fit to the data. It is concluded that, though the SIS-M was developed as a unitary measure of conformity, there is also compelling evidence that the SIS-M could be developed as a multi-dimensional measure of distinct, but related, conformity dimensions. The SIS-M therefore offers considerable potential as a research tool to gain novel insights into the conformity behaviour of midwives in the practice environment and the relationship of such behaviour to maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Citation

Hollins Martin, C. J., Bull, P., & Martin, C. R. (2004). The social influence scale for midwifery: factor structure and clinical research applications. Clinical Effectiveness in Nursing, 8(2), 118-121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cein.2004.09.003

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Dec 8, 2004
• Publication Date: 2004-06
• Deposit Date: Sep 18, 2015
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 18, 2015
• Journal: Clinical Effectiveness in Nursing
• Print ISSN: 1361-9004
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 8
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 118-121
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cein.2004.09.003
• Keywords: Midwifery; conformity; social influence scale for midwifery; ; decision-making
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/id/eprint/9122
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cein.2004.09.003
• Contract Date: Sep 18, 2015