Job Satisfaction: A Case Study.

Abstract

Job satisfaction is one of the most important concepts in the study of organizational behavior along with absenteeism, productivity, and turnover. Many researchers and industrial psychologists are interested in finding factors that increase job satisfaction because it is related to job behaviors like performance and accidents. This project studies the determinants of job satisfaction at Occidental College. I surveyed 59 administrators and staff of the college. To measure job satisfaction, I used Hoppock's Job Satisfaction Bank in addition to self-rating. Results from my respondents suggest that salary and stress level do not influence job satisfaction. However, factors outside of the job such as age and marital status seem to correlate with job satisfaction. Those employees who are married or living with a partner appear to be more satisfied than those who are single or divorced. Age is positively correlated with job satisfaction. Similarly, determinants related to the job such as satisfaction in profession, satisfaction in position, perception of room for personal growth, perception of use of talents and skills appear to maintain a positive relationship with job satisfaction. These current findings are consistent with the Herzberg's Two-Factor motivation theory.