PSYCHOLOGY MASTER'S THESIS ABSTRACT

Chad Vasconcellos
Industrial/Organizational
August 2002

The Moderating Effects of Self-Esteem and Locus of Control on the Relationship between
Objective Job Characteristics and Perceived Job Characteristics

    The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of objective job characteristics, self-esteem, and locus of control on perceived job characteristics.  This study also sought to examine the moderating effects of an individual’s self-esteem and locus of control on the relationship between objective job characteristics and perceived job characteristics.  A sample of 91 clerical and managerial employees from a public sector organization participated in this study.

    The results for the current study were mixed.  Direct effects for self-esteem, locus of control, objective job characteristics were found; however, there was no evidence to support a moderating relationship.  The findings contribute to our understanding of the Job Characteristics Model developed by Hackman and Oldham (1976) by providing support for a direct relationship between individual differences (self-esteem and locus of control) and perceived job characteristics.

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