NCJ Number
52140
Date Published
1978
Length
17 pages
Annotation
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHANGES EXPERIENCED IN THE PERSONAL LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS, WORK SETTING, AND JOB SATISFACTION IS INVESTIGATED; AND THE ASSESSMENT OF ORGANIZATIONAL STRESS IS DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE INVENTORY WAS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO EVALUATE LIFE CHANGES IN THE WORK SITUATION. BY USING THIS INVENTORY, ALONG WITH THE LIFE EXPERIENCE SURVEY, IT WAS POSSIBLE TO ANALYZE JOB SATISFACTION AND ORGANIZATIONAL STRESS FOR 44 MALE NAVAL PERSONNEL STATIONED IN SEATTLE, WASH. THE SUBJECTS RANGED IN AGE FROM 19 TO 48 YEARS, AND THE AVERAGE TIME SPENT IN MILITARY SERVICE WAS 7.71 YEARS. THE LIFE EXPERIENCE SURVEY IS A MEASURE OF LIFE STRESS THAT ASCERTAINS THE DEGREE OF CHANGE RESULTING FROM EVENTS EXPERIENCED IN ONE'S PERSONAL LIFE. THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE INVENTORY CONSISTS OF 30 ITEMS ABOUT CHANGES THAT MIGHT BE EXPERIENCED WITHIN THE NAVAL ENVIRONMENT. THE JOB DESCRIPTIVE INDEX, USED TO DERIVE A TOTAL JOB SATISFACTION SCORE, INCLUDES A NUMBER OF ADJECTIVES DESCRIPTIVE OF THE TYPE OF WORK INVOLVED, SUPERVISORS, WORK ASSOCIATES, PAY, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROMOTION. SUBJECTS MUST INDICATE WHETHER THE ADJECTIVES ARE DESCRIPTIVE OF THEIR JOB. LIFE CHANGES INDEXED BY THE LIFE EXPERIENCE SURVEY WERE SIGNIFICANTLY RELATED TO JOB SATISFACTION. SATISFACTION APPEARED TO BE RELATED PRIMARILY TO NEGATIVE CHANGES, ALTHOUGH POSITIVE CHANGES WERE RELATED TO PAY AND PROMOTION. BOTH POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE CHANGES WERE ASSOCIATED WITH CERTAIN ASPECTS OF JOB SATISFACTION IN AN ANALYSIS OF CORRELATIONS BETWEEN THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE INVENTORY AND INDEXES OF JOB SATISFACTION. FURTHER STUDY IS NEEDED TO RELATE MEASURES OF LIFE STRESS AND ORGANIZATIONAL STRESS TO ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS AND TO JOB SATISFACTION. ONE PARTICULAR AREA OF INQUIRY THAT SHOULD BE EXPLORED CONCERNS ATTRITION AMONG PERSONS IN ORGANIZATIONS. REFERENCES AND SUPPORTING DATA ARE PROVIDED. THE STUDY INSTRUMENTS ARE NOT INCLUDED.