The lack of behavioral terms in the item wording of the ACS is important from a
predictive validity perspective because, all else being equal, it would be expected that
a commitment scale that explicitly mentions an outcome in item wording correlates with
and predicts it more strongly than a commitment scale that does not explicitly tap that
outcome in the wording of its items. Some researchers have argued that such a scale
invalidly overlaps with the outcome, thus overstating the relationship between the outcome
and commitment (e.g., Bozeman and Perrewe’s 2001 analysis of intent-to-quit items in
the organizational commitment questionnaire). Yet somewhat paradoxically, in the case
of the Meyer and Allen scales, empirical research has shown that the exact opposite
is true: the ACS, which largely lacks behavioral wording, is a much stronger correlate
and predictor of turnover related variables than the NCS or the CCS, which are saturated
with staying/leaving wording (Meyer et al., 2002). As Meyer and Herscovitch (2001) note,
the ACS also tends to correlate more strongly with other behaviors, such as absenteeism,
job performance and citizenship behaviors. Meyer and Herscovitch explain these results
by speculating that the “binding force” for AC is both broader (i.e., implies a commitment
to more behaviors) and stronger (is more intense) than that for CC or NC.