NCJ Number
38240
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 4 Issue: 3 Dated: (FALL 1976) Pages: 223-230
Date Published
1976
Length
8 pages
Annotation
BASED ON A SURVEY OF 104 CORRECTIONAL PERSONNEL IN A MIDWESTERN STATE, THIS STUDY EXPLORED THE CORRECTIONS EMPLOYEE REACTIONS TO SELECTED JOB CHARACTERISTICS AND DISCUSSES THE IMPLICATIONS FOR CORRECTIONAL MANAGEMENT.
Abstract
AN ENLARGED JOB HAS BEEN OPERATIONALLY DEFINED AS A SET OF TASKS EXHIBITING THE FOLLOWING FOUR CHARACTERISTICS: SKILL VARIETY, AUTONOMY, TASK IDENTITY, AND FEEDBACK. THE RESEARCH WAS CARRIED OUT IN THE DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS OF A MIDWESTERN STATE. THE SUBJECTS WERE 104 PARTICIPANTS IN A DIVISION-SPONSORED TRAINING PROGRAM AND OCCUPIED A VARIETY OF JOBS. SUBJECTS WERE GIVEN A QUESTIONNAIRE WHICH INCLUDED FOUR SCALES AIMED AT MEASURING THE DEGREE TO WHICH THE SUBJECT'S JOB WAS SEEN BY HIM TO EXHIBIT THE FOUR JOB ENLARGEMENT TASK CHARACTERISTICS. THE RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE DEGREE TO WHICH THE SUBJECT'S JOBS EXHIBIT THESE CHARACTERISTICS IS POSITIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH HIGHER LEVELS OF MOTIVATION, INVOLVEMENT, AND SATISFACTION. THE STUDY RECOMMENDS JOB ENLARGEMENT TO IMPROVE THE PERSONNEL AND MANAGERIAL ASPECTS OF THE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION, TO BRING THE INSTITUTION INTO CONFORMITY WITH ENVIRONMENTAL REALITY, AND TO OVERCOME THE THERAPY-CUSTODY DICHOTOMY. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)