Not all that it might seem: why job satisfaction is worth studying despite it being a poor summary measure of job quality

TY - JOUR

T1 - Not all that it might seem

T2 - why job satisfaction is worth studying despite it being a poor summary measure of job quality

AU - Charlwood, Andy

AU - Spencer, David

AU - Brown, Andrew

PY - 2012/12/1

Y1 - 2012/12/1

N2 - Interest in data on job satisfaction is increasing in both academic and policy circles. One common way of interpreting these data is to see a positive association between job satisfaction and job quality. Another view is to dismiss the usefulness of job satisfaction data, because workers can often express satisfaction with work where job quality is poor. It is argued that this second viewhas some validity, but that survey data on job satisfaction and subjective well-being at work are informative if interpreted carefully. If researchers are to come to sensible conclusions about the meaning behind job satisfaction data, information about why workers report job satisfaction is needed. It is in the understanding of why workers report feeling satisfied (or dissatisfied) with their jobs that sociology can make a positive contribution.

AB - Interest in data on job satisfaction is increasing in both academic and policy circles. One common way of interpreting these data is to see a positive association between job satisfaction and job quality. Another view is to dismiss the usefulness of job satisfaction data, because workers can often express satisfaction with work where job quality is poor. It is argued that this second viewhas some validity, but that survey data on job satisfaction and subjective well-being at work are informative if interpreted carefully. If researchers are to come to sensible conclusions about the meaning behind job satisfaction data, information about why workers report job satisfaction is needed. It is in the understanding of why workers report feeling satisfied (or dissatisfied) with their jobs that sociology can make a positive contribution.

KW - job quality

KW - job satisfaction

KW - subjective well-being

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84871495619&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1177/0950017012461837

DO - 10.1177/0950017012461837

M3 - Article

SN - 0950-0170

VL - 26

SP - 1007

EP - 1018

JO - Work, Employment and Society

JF - Work, Employment and Society

IS - 6

ER -