A Study of Role Conflict Affecting Public Information Work in the United States Air Force: Two Administrative Levels: Base/Wing and Major Air Command

摘要

The thesis is an attempt to examine the depth of pressures and elements of 2 structures that can produce conflict for an Air Force Public Information Officer. It examines the bureaucratic structure within which he works as one conflict source and the structure of the news gathering facility as another source of pressure and conflict. The essential fact revealed is that opinions, attitudes and acceptance of the PIO function in and out of the military are created and maintained in association with others. A change in ideas cannot be purely an individual matter nor does it follow that acceptance of either a person or his work is mandatory because of the person's status, position or role in the structure. The key fact is that the PIO and newsman are members of different groups and that membership pressures both parties toward conformity of the group norms. It is this concept that overrides the individualism of each and recognition of this fact of life forms the foundation for an approach to the reduction of role conflict.