Assessing organizational socialization in a military context: Validation of the Military Organizational Socialization Inventory (MOSI)

Organizational socialization entails adopting appraisal strategies and adjustment mechanisms that support employees' integration into new workplaces. This study focused on adapting and validating the Military Organizational Socialization Inventory (MOSI), a tool that measures perceived socialization levels among military personnel. The research included 563 cadets from the Italian Army Non-Commissioned Officers School, who completed the MOSI along with other measures, such as the Content Areas of Socialization Scale (CAS), Organizational Socialization Inventory (OSI), and the Affective, Continuance, and Normative Commitment Scales. A confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the theoretical three-factor structure. Then, a second-order factor model showed a good fit, further emphasizing the multidimensional nature of organizational socialization in military contexts. The MOSI demonstrated convergent validity through significant correlations with the CAS and OSI, and predictive validity through meaningful relationships, primarily with the affective commitment dimension of the Affective, Continuance, and Normative Commitment Scales. However, limitations include the cross-sectional design and the focus on a single military institution, which may restrict generalizability. Future research should employ longitudinal designs, assess different military branches, and consider cultural influences to further validate the MOSI. Examining variations in roles and deployments could also reveal factors affecting socialization levels. Overall, the MOSI is a reliable and valid tool for assessing organizational socialization in military settings, with significant implications for improving integration processes and organizational effectiveness.