Expectancy Theory as a Predictive Model of Career Intent, Job Satisfaction, and Institution-Occupation Orientation among Air Force Officer Scientists and Engineers.

摘要

This research study examines career intent, job satisfaction, and institution-occupation orientation among members of the scientific and engineering career fields (26XX and 28XX, respectively) using a model of behavioral choice and motivation known as Expectancy Theory. The research was conducted via analysis of questionnaires from 617 Air Force scientists and engineers located at various bases and stations throughout the United States. The combinatorial and predictive properties of the Expectancy Theory model were tested using both within-person and across-person methodologies for 20 separate career outcomes. The data for the career intent predictions were utilized for the whole sample, and then tested separately for the five-year groups represented. In all, the Expectancy Theory model was quite powerful in predicting career intent. In addition to the actual predictive testing, this report includes an extensive literature review of Expectancy Theory and some analysis of the behavior of its components in the tests along with recommendations for improvement of the methodology for measuring the components.