The paper is concerned with determining from a large sample of British industrial workers, whether there is an unconditional relationship between job specialization and worker dissatisfaction, or a relationship contingent on middle-class work values. The recent work literature includes three contradictory propositions relating job specialization…

The purpose of this study was to develop a valid and reliable perception instrument and to use the instrument to identify the significant perceptions of office work held by 10th grade female students enrolled in urban high schools serving disadvantaged youth, and to compare these perceptions with those held by 10th grade female students enrolled…

A conceptual model of individual assessment through the use of biodata responses with minimal input information is outlined. The process is considered especially applicable to industrial psychology. A scored autobiographical data form, which measures the individual's past behavior and experiences, provides for assignment to a specific subgroup…

Certain structural changes which are taking place in the labor market and in society are examined in an effort to identify the areas of research in human resources to which vocational education could make a contribution. It is suggested that with improved research knowledge, social and behavioral scientists are beginning to recognize that there is…

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) evaluated the feasibility of individual learning accounts (ILAs) as an approach to workforce development. Thirteen federal agencies volunteered to participate in the initiative. Together, they conducted a total of 17 pilot tests. Some pilot tests included all employees in the agency. Others targeted…

With reference to the literature on adult self-directed learning, a model termed the "Two-Shell Model of Motivated Self-Directed Learning" was formulated that differentiates sociohistorical environmental conditions, internal conditions, and activities related to four concepts (interest, learning strategies, control, and evaluation). The…

The first of three papers from this symposium, "The Effects of Personality, Affectivity, and Work Commitment on Motivation to Improve Work through Learning" (Sharon S. Naquin, Elwood F. Holton III), examined the degree to which the Five-Factor Model (FFM) of personality, affectivity, and work commitment dimensions influenced motivation…

The recruitment and retention of Asian computer professionals by Canadian high-tech companies was examined by interviewing 8 Canadian-born information technology (IT) workers, 47 Asian-born IT workers, and 8 human resource (HR) professionals employed by high-tech companies in Ottawa. Of the 47 Asians, 33 stated that they did not know much about…

Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey for men aged 45 through 59, the paper develops a model of labor supply change or adjustment to estimate the speed of worker response to changes in desired labor supply and to constraints on hours and wages. (MF)

According to the literature, affective work competencies and personal-social competencies are but two of the terminologies among the plethora of captions employed to describe the set of behaviors commonly referred to as work ethics. The commonality linking these various captions is that all terminologies relate to the concepts of individual…

For the thirty-fourth year, the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) is sponsoring the publication of these Proceedings. Papers published in this volume were presented at the annual AECT Convention in Jacksonville, FL. A limited quantity of these Proceedings were printed and sold in both hardcopy and electronic…

Well-designed performance appraisals should provide employees with feedback concerning their performance, serve as a basis for modifying behavior toward more effective work habits, and provide managers with data which they can use to judge future job assignments and compensation. Poorly-designed ones, used as short-term control systems, can create…

Mercer County Community College (New Jersey) and six small businesses used federal grant money to develop a model program of workplace literacy that would assist 600 adult workers with inadequate basic skills in performing their jobs. In analyzing the overall skills of the work force, the literacy audit identified these basic skills/literacy…

This report describes the programs of 440 organizations that constitute the "First Honor Roll Class" by virtue of having initiated innovative and effective programs and policies to improve the lives of working women. The models described in the report represent a cross-section of the Honor Roll. These programs and initiatives are divided into four…

This study investigated the amount of time secondary school teachers spent working and the types of work activities, based on records and survey forms from 348 teachers in secondary schools in England and Wales. Findings include: (1) the weekly mean time spent on work was 54.4 hours; (2) teachers spent an average of 16.9 hours teaching, 12.9 hours…