اندازه گیری و اعتبار ساختار ارزش کار اسلامی: یک مطالعه تجربی با استفاده از نمونه های مالزی  Measuring and validating Islamic work value constructs: An empirical exploration using Malaysian samples

1. Introduction Values in general have generated considerable interest among scholars in the past (Rokeach, 1973; Schwartz et al., 2001), and there has been extensive research on diverse issues regarding values in various settings (Hofstede, 1980). Chatterjee and Pearson (2002) and Bartlett (2003), for example, have investigated values in an organizational context, while others, such as Schwartz (1994) and Parsons, Cable, and Wilkerson (1999), have examined values in cultural settings. However, there is a paucity of research pertaining to religious values in the extant literature. Because most values are universal in nature, it is difficult to identify values that are associated with a particular religion or group. Towards addressing this research lacuna, this study aims to identify the importance of the concept of Islamic work values (IWV) and to validate an instrument intended to measure the identified constructs. Specifically, the research objectives are (1) to identify the constructs of IWV, (2) to measure their constructs and (3) to validate the instruments for securing their reliability and validity. he instruments for securing their reliability and validity. Recently, understanding Islamic systems has received renewed importance following the rapid economic growth in many Islamic nations. The Islamic market is growing rapidly at the global level and is showing distinctive market characteristics (Hussain, 1998; Hodge, 2005), especially following wealth generation resulting in improved living standards in many Muslim countries. Consequently, a considerable amount of research has been undertaken in various areas, such as management of Islamic banking and finance. Although values have been the subject of extensive research internationally, work on Islamic values remains relatively unexplored in the literature. he importance of religion as a determinant of work values has attracted some attention among scholars. Religion as a source of values can be understandably acceptable, as three-quarters of the world’s population belong to a religion (Zuckerman, 2005). Religious values in general are founded on the principles outlined in religious books (e.g., the Qur’an and Hadith (Prophet Muhammad’s traditions) for Islam, the Bible for Christianity, the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) and Talmud for Judaism; Abdal-Haqq, 2002; Sanders, 2009). Several studies such as Arslan (2001) and Cukur, Guzman, and Carlo (2004) have addressed the issue pertaining to the influence of religion on values. Values are the guiding principle for human behavior and religion influences values in terms of transmitting some specific values and norms to its followers. Thus, religiously oriented values can have strong impact on the behavior of followers of religions.