Development and psychometric validation of the intrinsic motivation in telework scale: evidence from Peru

Abstract

The present study aimed to develop and validate the first psychometric scale designed to assess intrinsic motivation in teleworking environments in Latin America, thereby addressing a critical gap in global occupational psychology research. A sequential mixed-method design was employed, combining qualitative interviews grounded in Self-Determination Theory with a quantitative survey administered to 207 Peruvian teleworkers from the banking and education sectors. The methodological process included the initial design of the instrument, expert judgment validation, a pilot test, and successive refinement stages. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, complemented by structural equation modeling, were conducted using JASP, SPSS, and R software, applying the principal axis factoring method to address data non-normality. The final scale, consisting of five factors and 28 items, demonstrated high internal consistency (α = 0.93) and explained 68.85% of the total variance. The factors identified included dimensions associated with intrinsic motivation in teleworking contexts, such as achievement motivation, physical and mental well-being, organizational communication and human resource support, adequacy of the physical workspace for teleworking, and personal and family well-being. The findings confirmed that this scale is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing intrinsic motivation in teleworking environments, particularly in a post-pandemic context characterized by widespread digital adoption. Its application will enable organizations across Latin America and beyond to monitor and strengthen the motivation of remote workers, supporting evidence-based human resource policies that foster performance, resilience, and well-being in the future of work.