Ch 6 Workrelated Attitudes Part 1 Feb 19

Ch 6: Work-related Attitudes Part 1: Feb 19, 2009

Job Attitudes • Stable feelings, beliefs, predispositions • Affect toward job (pos/neg) with cognitive & behavioral components • Most research on job satisfaction • Group differences in job sat – which direction? – – Job type (blue/white collar) Age (non-linear relation) Job experience Gender/ethnicity differences

Dispositional effect • Evidence of disposition job sat: – Twin studies – Effects of job changes on job sat – Longitudinal studies comparing teens/adults- • Strong link with job satisfaction – how does NA relate?

Dispositional effect • But disposition, job dissat & turnover? • “Gripe Index” (Weitz, ’ 52) – satisfaction with neutral objects linked to job sat. • Judge & Hulin ’ 93 longitudinal study of nurses using Gripe Index: – What did they find? – How did they explain these results?

Measuring Job Sat • Questionnaires: (General or Component) – Job Descriptive Index (JDI) – sat w/work itself, coworkers, supervision, pay, promotion (component approach) • Adjective checklist (yes/no/? ) • Advantages? – Minnesota Sat Questionnaire (MSQ) – component approach, Likert-scale – “Faces” scale – general job sat • Advantages?

Job Sat Theories • Locke’s Value theory – based on fit between job and person’s values – Support? • Similar to Ben Schneider’s ASA model (Attraction. Selection-Attrition) – Emphasis on person-org fit • Honeymoon-Hangover effect: – What is it? – Suggests need for longitudinal studies & pay attention to when you measure job sat during someone’s tenure

Outcomes of Job Dissatisfaction • Most research on links withdrawal: – Psychological withdrawal – Physical withdrawal • Weak relation with absenteeism – Typical correlation for job sat & abs? – Sat w/work itself best predictor of absenteeism – Why such a weak relationship?

Job Dissat & Absenteeism • Smith’s (1979) study at Sears’ Chicago and NY offices – Relation betw job sat and absenteeism on a single day. – Describe the unusual circumstances of the study – What did he find? – How did he explain the results?

Job Dissat &Turnover • Modest relation with turnover (r=. 2) - why? • Progression of Withdrawal models – – Many intermediate steps betw job dissat and turnover Dissat Lateness Absent Job Search Quit

Job Dissat & Turnover (cont. ) • Unfolding Model of Turnover – – Role of ‘shocks to the system’ – Negative, positive? – Follow 1 of several ‘decision paths’ based on alternatives decide to quit/stay • Functional & dysfunctional turnover – what is the distinction?