JOB DESIGN VARIABLES AS CHANGE MEASURES IN A CORRECTIONAL FACILITY

• NCJ Number: 32757
• Journal: American Journal of Community Psychology Volume: 3 Issue: 4 Dated: (DECEMBER 1975) Pages: 315-325
• Author(s): N D REPPUCCI; C W DEAN; J T SAUNDERS
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 11 pages
• Corporate Author: Plenum Publishing Corp
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: REPRINT

Annotation

THIS INVESTIGATION IS AN ATTEMPT TO DEMONSTRATE THAT JOB DESIGN VARIABLES WHICH PROVIDE AN INDICATION OF JOB SATISFACTION MAY BE USEFUL AS EVALUATIVE MEASURES OF CHANGE IN A CORRECTIONAL FACILITY FOR DELINQUENT YOUTH.

Abstract

MANY STUDIES HAVE DISCUSSED THE CONCEPT OF JOB ENLARGEMENT, PROVIDING INCREASED CHALLENGE AND WORK RESPONSIBILITIES' AS A REMEDY FOR WORKER APATHY AND INEFFICIENCY. IN THIS STUDY, STAFF WERE ADMINISTERED A MODIFIED VERSION OF THE HACKMAN/LAWLER JOB DESIGN INVENTORY AT TWO TIME PERIODS SEPARATED BY AN INTERNAL OF 14 MONTHS. STAFF WHO WERE PARTICIPANTS IN AN INNOVATIVE INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE PROGRAM (WHICH PROVIDED JOB ENLARGEMENT) AT BOTH TIMES WERE COMPARED WITH STAFF WHO WERE NOT PARTICIPANTS AT TIME I BUT WERE AT TIME II. AMONG THE JOB DIMENSIONS ASSESSED WERE AUTONOMY, VARIETY, FEEDBACK, TASK IDENTITY, CONTACT, PARTICIPATION, INFORMATION, AND LEARNING. THE RESULTS PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE NOTION THAT EXAMINATION OF THE PERCEPTIONS OF WORKING CONDITIONS BY EMPLOYEES MAY BE AN IMPORTANT METHOD FOR ASSESSING INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)