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Job Satisfaction: Key Influencing Variables

This document summarizes research on the variables that correlate with high and low job satisfaction. It identifies two types of variables - organizational and personal. Organizational variables that positively correlate with job satisfaction include higher occupational level, greater job content variety, considerate leadership, adequate pay and promotional opportunities, and positive interaction in the work group. Personal variables that positively correlate include older age (up until preretirement) and lower education level when occupational level is held constant. The relationship between sex and job satisfaction is unclear from the research.

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Anagha Pawar - 34
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77 views2 pages

Job Satisfaction: Key Influencing Variables

This document summarizes research on the variables that correlate with high and low job satisfaction. It identifies two types of variables - organizational and personal. Organizational variables that positively correlate with job satisfaction include higher occupational level, greater job content variety, considerate leadership, adequate pay and promotional opportunities, and positive interaction in the work group. Personal variables that positively correlate include older age (up until preretirement) and lower education level when occupational level is held constant. The relationship between sex and job satisfaction is unclear from the research.

Uploaded by

Anagha Pawar - 34
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Job 

Satisfaction – Variables
Several studies have been carried out in the past of determine the
correlates of high and low job satisfaction. These studies have
related job satisfaction to two types of variables- organizational and
personal.

Findings with regard to some of these variables are given


below:

I. Organizational Variables:

(1) Occupational Level:
The higher the level of the job, the greater the satisfaction of the
individual. This is because higher level jobs carry greater prestige
and self-control. This relationship between occupational level and
job satisfaction stems from social reference group theory in that our
society values some jobs more than others.
Hence, people in valued jobs will like them more than those who are
in non-valued jobs. The relationship may also stem from the need
fulfilment theory. People in higher level jobs find most of their
needs satisfied than when they are in lower level ones.

(2) Job Content:
Greater the variation in job content and the less the repetitiveness
with which the tasks must be performed, the greater the satisfaction
of the individuals involved. Since job content in terms of variety and
nature of tasks called for is a function of occupational level, the
theoretical arguments given above apply here also.

(3) Considerate Leadership:
People like to be treated with consideration. Hence considerate
leadership results in higher job satisfaction than inconsiderate
leadership.

(4) Pay and Promotional Opportunities:


All other things being equal these two variables are positively
related to job satisfaction.
(5) Interaction in the Work Group:
Here the question is- when is interaction in the work group a source
of job satisfaction and when it is not?
Interaction is most satisfying when:
(i) It results in the cognition that other person’s attitudes are similar
to one’s own, since this permits the ready calculability of the other’s
behaviour and constitutes a validation of one’s self;
(ii) It results in being accepted by others; and
(iii) It facilitates the achievement of goals.

II. Personal Variables:

(1) Age:
Most of the evidence on the relation between age and job
satisfaction, holding such factors as occupational level constant,
seems to indicate that there is generally a positive relationship
between the two variables up to the preretirement years and then
there is a sharp decrease in satisfaction.
An individual aspires for better and more prestigious jobs in later
years of his life. Finding his channels for advancement blocked his
satisfaction declines.

(2) Educational Level:
With occupational level held constant there is a negative
relationship between the educational level and job satisfaction. The
higher the education, the higher the reference group which the
individual looks to for guidance to evaluate his job rewards.

(3) Sex:
There is as yet no consistent evidence as to whether women are
more satisfied with their jobs than men, holding such factors as job
and occupational level constant. One might predict this to be the
case, considering the generally lower occupational aspiration of
women.

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