Individual differences and task design: A laboratory experiment

Abstract

A laboratory experiment was conducted to test the moderating effects of Protestant Ethic, Growth Need Strength, Need for Achievement, and Arousal-Seeking Tendency on task design relationships. Objective task scope was manipulated by assigning 190 college students to either a simple or complex electronic assembly task. While none of the individual differences variables significantly moderated the objective scope—satisfaction relationship, need for achievement did moderate the perceived scope—satisfaction relationship. Upon inspection of the interaction terms, however, it was found that the moderating effects were contrary to those hypothesized. Implications for both theory development and the practice of job redesign are discussed.