Davies, R (1997) Intrinsic job satisfaction: An examination of United Kingdom construction trades operatives. PhD thesis, University of Manchester, UK.
Abstract
This thesis examines the job perceptions of construction trades operatives working on construction sites in the United Kingdom. The focus is on the perception of the job characteristics that have implications for intrinsic job satisfaction. Repertory grid interviews (N=50) identified fifteen dimensions used by construction workers to evaluate their work. Qualitative analysis suggested that construction workers have a strong internalised concept of their job and that this job concept is a major determinant of how specific work experiences are evaluated. Job concept was conceptualised as a stable attitude summary that would be adaptive, self-justifying and influenced by various personality and socially mediated information-processing mechanisms. A structured measurement instrument was developed to compare perceived job complexity of the job as a whole (job concept) with perceived job complexity of an example of one day's recent work experience (recent events). Additional scales measured overall job satisfaction, job involvement, growth needs strength, and trait negative affectivity. The results from a survey of construction trades operatives (N=171) using a face-to-face interview method of presentation confirmed the hypotheses that: 1) job concept scores would be significantly higher than recent events scores; and 2) job concept would be significantly more strongly related to trait negative affectivity than would recent events. A third hypothesis, that job concept would be significantly more stable over time than would recent events, was not supported by the results of a longitudinal remeasure (N=35). The results and their implications are discussed and recommendations are made for further research.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Duff, R |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | United Kingdom; complexity; interview; job satisfaction; measurement; operatives; qualitative analysis |
| Index terms: | determinant, dimension, construction worker, operative, job satisfaction, personality, qualitative analysis, complexity, interview, United Kingdom, construction site, face, survey |
| Subjects: | research design and methodology, risk assessment, data collection methods, work location, health monitoring assessment and metrics, management, systems engineering, practitioner, psychology, Geography, behavioral psychology |
| Topics: | Risk Management, Engineering Principles, Geographical Context, Health and Safety, Roles and Professions, Research Practice, Organizational Design, Site Management, Human Resources |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here