Theoretical and empirical linkages between workrelated commitment foci

Abstract

No study has been reported thus far in the commitment literature which clarifies the relationship between six workrelated foci on a comparable theoretical basis. Such a comparison was made possible by the development of six instruments to operationalise involvement, commitment towards work, job, occupation, career, union and school as cognitive predispositions. A random, proportionally stratified sample of 510 teachers was drawn from 184 schools and a population of 4166 teachers from a previous provincial department of education. Only 279 of the 385 usuable questionnaires were fully completed and used for final analysis. A second-order factor analysis yielded four factors which explain about 66 of the total variance. These factors named "workaholism", "organisational-related involvement, commitment", "union commitment", and "work-related alienation" seem to be relative independent factors. No support for the existence of six separate foci could be found. Opsomming Geen studie is tot dusver in die verbondenheidliteratuur gerapporteer wat die verhouding tussen ses werkverwante foki op 'n vergelykbare teoretiese basis ophelder nie. So 'n vergelyking is moontlik gemaak deur die ontwikkeling van ses instrumente om betrokkenheid, verbondenheid tot werk, pos, beroep, loopbaan, vakbond en skool as kognitiewe predisposisies te operasionaliseer. 'n Ewekansige, proporsioneel-gestratifiseerde steekproef van 510 onderwysers is by 184 skole en 'n populasie van 4166 onderwysers van 'n vorige provinsiale onderwysdepartement getrek. Slegs 279 van die 385 bruikbare vraelyste was volledig voltooi en is vir finale ontleding gebruik. 'n Tweedeorde-faktorontleding het vier faktore opgelewer wat ongeveer 66 van die totale variansie verklaar. Hierdie faktore is "werkbeheptheid", "organisasie-verwante betrokkenheid/verbondenheid", "vakbondverbondenheid" en "werk-verwante vervreemding" genoem wat skynbaar relatief-onafhanklike faktore is. Geen steun vir die bestaan van ses afsonderlike foki kon gevind word nie.

Keywords

• Theoretical linkages
• Empirical linkages
• Workrelated commitment foci