PSYCHOLOGY MASTER'S THESIS ABSTRACT

Linda Chan
Industrial/Organizational
August 2004

The Effects of Ethnic Diversity on LMX, Job Satisfaction, and Organizational Commitment

    A sample of 147 hotel employees was evaluated to assess the effects of ethnic diversity on Leader-Member Exchange (LMX), job satisfaction and organizational commitment.  Consistent with past studies, LMX was found to be positively correlated to job satisfaction and organizational commitment.  Contrary to expectations, ethnically diverse dyads did not have significantly lower LMX than ethnically similar dyads.  Similarly, the composition of the dyad was unrelated to the quality of LMX.  Since ethnic diversity was not found to be correlated with LMX, job satisfaction or organizational commitment, LMX did not mediate the relationship between ethnically diverse dyads and work outcomes.  Results indicate that organizations may benefit from leadership training to enhance LMX relationship, therefore increasing job satisfaction, organizational commitment, productivity and lowering turnover.  Suggestions for further research are discussed.

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