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The Journal of Social Psychology Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/vsoc20
Re-Examining the Link between Job Characteristics and Job Satisfaction David Beaty
a
a
School of Business Hampton University , USA Published online: 01 Jul 2010.
To cite this article: David Beaty (1990) Re-Examining the Link between Job Characteristics and Job Satisfaction, The Journal of Social Psychology, 130:1, 131-132, DOI: 10.1080/00224545.1990.9922946 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00224545.1990.9922946
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content.
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The Journol of Social Psychology, 130(1), 131-132
Downloaded by [McMaster University] at 18:58 18 December 2014
Re-Examining the Link Between Job Characteristics and Job Satisfaction DAVID BEATY School of Business Hampton University MOST STUDIES CONCERNED with differential job satisfaction and race concluded that Blacks are either less satisfied than Whites or reported similar levels of satisfaction (Moch, 1980). An instance in which Black clerical workers perceived greater job satisfaction than their White peers was reported (Brenner & Fernsten, 1984), but racial differences in job satisfaction were not actually tested. Instead, Brenner and Fernsten inferred that Black workers were more satisfied than Whites because Black workers perceived more evidence of 25 positive job characteristics (for example, comfortable working conditions and job security) than White workers did. But as Moch (1980) pointed out, the relation between race and satisfaction is complex, and racial differences in job satisfaction can be attributed to a variety of possibilities, such as structural, cultural, social, and social-psychological factors. Indeed, a recent study conducted in South Africa among Black and White registered nurses (Beaty & De Vries, 1987) revealed that, although Black registered nurses perceived more evidence of various job characteristics than their White peers did, they were not significantly satisfied on intrinsic, extrinsic, and overall satisfaction measures. The present study extended Brenner and Fernsten’s (1984) investigation by examining the link between perceived job characteristics and job satisfaction with an empirical test for intrinsic, extrinsic, and overall satisfaction reported by Black and White nurses. Subjects were 104 registered nurses (57 White, 47 Black) employed at job parity and under similar conditions of pay and service in a hospital located on the west coast of the United States. A 25-item job characteristics measure employing a 5-point scale (Brenner & Fernsten, 1984) and a 9-item intrinsic, extrinsic, and overall satisfaction measure developed by Simonetti and Weitz (1972) were used. Demographic
Requests for reprints should be sent to David Beaty, School of Business, Hampton University, Hampton, VA 23666. 131
Downloaded by [McMaster University] at 18:58 18 December 2014
132
The Journal of Social Psychologv
characteristics (education, tenure, age, sex, and race) associated with job satisfaction (Moch, 1980) also were examined. Analysis of the data using t tests on each of the 25 job characteristics revealed that Black nurses perceived more evidence of 24 of the 25 characteristics; 12 were perceived to be significantly more evident (p < .05). Although these findings are consistent with those of Brenner and Fernsten (1984), their conclusion that Black workers were differentially more satisfied than Whites because they perceived more evidence of a number of favorable job characteristics was not supported. No significant differences between groups were found on the extrinsic, intrinsic, and overall satisfaction measure when t tests were applied to mean ratings of the items. An analysis of variance conducted on the demographic items indicated that race was the only variable that explained the variance in job satisfaction and perceived job characteristics. An exception to this was the item job security, for which age explained a significant amount of the variation, F(3, 141) = 5.02, p c .05. The findings of this study are consistent with the result of Beaty and De Vries (1987) in South Africa and suggest that a host of cultural, social, hierarchical position, and relative deprivation issues in the United States make the situation far more complex than simply linking perceived job characteristics to job satisfaction. REFERENCES Beaty, D. T., & De Vries, B. (1987). Cross cultural and racial comparisons of job satisfaction in a South African hospital setting: Some empirical findings. South African Journal of Business Management, 18(4), 228-234. Brenner, 0. C., & Fernsten, J . (1984). Racial differences in perceived job fulfillment of white collar workers. Perceptual and Motor Ski& 58, 643-646. Moch, M. K. (1980). Racial differences in job satisfaction: Testing four common explanations. Journal of Applied Psychology, 65, 299-306. Simonetti, S. H., & Weitz, J. (1972). Job satisfaction: Some cross cultural effects. Personnel Psychology, 25, 107-1 18.
Received March 16, 1989
The Journal of Social Psychology Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/vsoc20
Re-Examining the Link between Job Characteristics and Job Satisfaction David Beaty
a
a
School of Business Hampton University , USA Published online: 01 Jul 2010.
To cite this article: David Beaty (1990) Re-Examining the Link between Job Characteristics and Job Satisfaction, The Journal of Social Psychology, 130:1, 131-132, DOI: 10.1080/00224545.1990.9922946 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00224545.1990.9922946
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content.
Downloaded by [McMaster University] at 18:58 18 December 2014
This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/page/terms-and-conditions
The Journol of Social Psychology, 130(1), 131-132
Downloaded by [McMaster University] at 18:58 18 December 2014
Re-Examining the Link Between Job Characteristics and Job Satisfaction DAVID BEATY School of Business Hampton University MOST STUDIES CONCERNED with differential job satisfaction and race concluded that Blacks are either less satisfied than Whites or reported similar levels of satisfaction (Moch, 1980). An instance in which Black clerical workers perceived greater job satisfaction than their White peers was reported (Brenner & Fernsten, 1984), but racial differences in job satisfaction were not actually tested. Instead, Brenner and Fernsten inferred that Black workers were more satisfied than Whites because Black workers perceived more evidence of 25 positive job characteristics (for example, comfortable working conditions and job security) than White workers did. But as Moch (1980) pointed out, the relation between race and satisfaction is complex, and racial differences in job satisfaction can be attributed to a variety of possibilities, such as structural, cultural, social, and social-psychological factors. Indeed, a recent study conducted in South Africa among Black and White registered nurses (Beaty & De Vries, 1987) revealed that, although Black registered nurses perceived more evidence of various job characteristics than their White peers did, they were not significantly satisfied on intrinsic, extrinsic, and overall satisfaction measures. The present study extended Brenner and Fernsten’s (1984) investigation by examining the link between perceived job characteristics and job satisfaction with an empirical test for intrinsic, extrinsic, and overall satisfaction reported by Black and White nurses. Subjects were 104 registered nurses (57 White, 47 Black) employed at job parity and under similar conditions of pay and service in a hospital located on the west coast of the United States. A 25-item job characteristics measure employing a 5-point scale (Brenner & Fernsten, 1984) and a 9-item intrinsic, extrinsic, and overall satisfaction measure developed by Simonetti and Weitz (1972) were used. Demographic
Requests for reprints should be sent to David Beaty, School of Business, Hampton University, Hampton, VA 23666. 131
Downloaded by [McMaster University] at 18:58 18 December 2014
132
The Journal of Social Psychologv
characteristics (education, tenure, age, sex, and race) associated with job satisfaction (Moch, 1980) also were examined. Analysis of the data using t tests on each of the 25 job characteristics revealed that Black nurses perceived more evidence of 24 of the 25 characteristics; 12 were perceived to be significantly more evident (p < .05). Although these findings are consistent with those of Brenner and Fernsten (1984), their conclusion that Black workers were differentially more satisfied than Whites because they perceived more evidence of a number of favorable job characteristics was not supported. No significant differences between groups were found on the extrinsic, intrinsic, and overall satisfaction measure when t tests were applied to mean ratings of the items. An analysis of variance conducted on the demographic items indicated that race was the only variable that explained the variance in job satisfaction and perceived job characteristics. An exception to this was the item job security, for which age explained a significant amount of the variation, F(3, 141) = 5.02, p c .05. The findings of this study are consistent with the result of Beaty and De Vries (1987) in South Africa and suggest that a host of cultural, social, hierarchical position, and relative deprivation issues in the United States make the situation far more complex than simply linking perceived job characteristics to job satisfaction. REFERENCES Beaty, D. T., & De Vries, B. (1987). Cross cultural and racial comparisons of job satisfaction in a South African hospital setting: Some empirical findings. South African Journal of Business Management, 18(4), 228-234. Brenner, 0. C., & Fernsten, J . (1984). Racial differences in perceived job fulfillment of white collar workers. Perceptual and Motor Ski& 58, 643-646. Moch, M. K. (1980). Racial differences in job satisfaction: Testing four common explanations. Journal of Applied Psychology, 65, 299-306. Simonetti, S. H., & Weitz, J. (1972). Job satisfaction: Some cross cultural effects. Personnel Psychology, 25, 107-1 18.
Received March 16, 1989
