Measuring innovative literacy: conceptualization, scale development and validation

Purpose There is a need to understand the role of innovative literacy in intellectual capital literature. This study aims to develop the innovative literacy scale, starting from the framework of innovative literacy, which is not prominent in the literature. Accordingly, this study develops and validates an innovative literacy scale. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative research methodology was used for this study, whereby a unipolar 5-point Likert scale self-report questionnaire was designed. Scale development analyses were performed in three steps: (1) The first item pool was created by literature review; (2) preliminary quantitative testing of the reliability and validity of the items, including confirmatory factor analyses (CFA), was performed; and (3) final scale validation through a discriminant and validity test was done using descriptive factor analyses (DFA) and structural equation modelling (SEM). Findings For the developed scale, the sample size was 220 in the first stage, 440 in the second stage, and 457 in the third stage. The validity and reliability analyses of the results were completed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS) programs. After the preliminary stages, the validity and reliability tests of the scale were carried out, and 17 items (in 4 dimensions) of the innovative literacy scale were finally developed. Research limitations/implications This research fills a conceptual gap in the literature. However, since this concept is evaluated using the human, customer and structural components of intellectual capital, future researchers may examine this concept together with other features of intellectual capital and with larger samples. Originality/value The article contributes to understanding innovation by developing a scale to evaluate InnoLiteracy, which may be an essential factor influencing innovative literate behaviours. The perceived multi-dimensional scale of InnoLiteracy will be beneficial for academicians and human resources professionals. Although there are studies in the related literature on the importance of the concept of innovative literacy, a scale from the perspectives of intellectual capital and sustainable innovation will be unique since there is no tool for its measurement yet. The findings of the InnoLiteracy research are meaningful, and the scale has the potential to meet the needs of researchers, schools, government agencies and businesses.