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The influence of growth needs and psychological states on the relationship of job dimensions and job performance of service related educators
Abstract
A theoretical model was tested to determine the relationship between five job dimensions (skill variety, task identity, task significance, autonomy and feedback) and job performance of Extension agents of the Nebraska Cooperative Extension Service. The relationship between these variables was studied when two moderating variables, psychological states and growth need strength, were present. Theoretical concepts used to support this study were the Job Characteristics theory and a performance concept model of Ivancevich, Szilagyi, and Wallace. Two concerns of researchers were addressed in this study of Extension agents. One, a population was studied that had common job responsibilities; and two, a population was studied where the entire population was evaluated using one valid performance instrument. Data from 141 Extension agents who completed a modified Job Diagnostic Survey were included in the study. Statistical analyses used to interpret the data included t-tests, Pearson r and partial correlations, and stepwise, foward inclusion, regression analysis. Results showed no significant relationships between the five job dimensions and job performance when a moderating variable was present. Neither was there a difference in the job performance levels between Extension agents in the lowest quartile for growth need strength as opposed to those agents in the highest quartile for growth need strength. However, significant positive correlations were found between the five job dimensions and the three corresponding psychological states. Extension agents perceived the autonomy and skill variety available in their jobs to be quite high with means of 6.0 and 6.2 respectively on a 7-point scale with seven being high. Recommendations included a study of other variables that impact upon performance of service related educators in addition to the job dimensions addressed in this research, a study utilizing the theoretical base of this research to determine if the five job dimensions studied relate to satisfaction and motivation in ways different from what they related to job performance, replication of this study including participants who have a wider range of job performance scores, and further study of the validity of the performance instrument utilized by the Nebraska Cooperative Extension Service.
Subject Area
Adult education|Continuing education|School administration
Recommended Citation
Birnstihl, Elizabeth Ann Nelson, "The influence of growth needs and psychological states on the relationship of job dimensions and job performance of service related educators" (1987). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI8806142.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI8806142