The Relationship Between Work Attitudes and Job Analysis Ratings: Do Rating Scale Type and Task Discretion Matter?

This study examined the association of work attitudes (job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and job involvement) with job analysis ratings. The relation between work attitudes and job analysis ratings was examined relative to rating scale type (frequency and importance) and task discretion (low vs. high discretion tasks). Hypotheses linking work attitudes and job analysis ratings were developed and tested on a sample of 365 travel agents. The results indicated that the work attitudes were significantly associated with job analysis ratings of task frequency and importance. All 3 work attitudes had significantly higher correlations with frequency ratings of tasks that allowed high levels of discretion than those with prescribed behaviors (low discretion tasks). Applied implications and future directions for research linking work attitudes and job analysis ratings are discussed.