Occupational Status, Job Satisfaction and Levels of Aspiration

Abstract

r NHE DAfA Ieported here svere obtained from interviews of skilled workers in the Perth Metropolitan area of Western , Australia. During the autumn of I958 a random sample of 50 skilled men in the metal trades were interviewed and during the autumn of I959 a similar sample of carpenters was taken. About So per cent of the interviews were carried out by evening students in thc industrial relations class of the Diploma in Management of the Perth Tecllrlical College.l Although these students were not formally trained as interviewers they were all l^elatively mature (mean age thirty-two years) and most of them were junior or middle rank executives. Because of their matllrity and business experience they had considerable insight and skill in illterpersonal communication. The interviews were conducted mainly in the workers' homes and lasted from two to three hours. In addition to providing material for this article, and another one to be pllblished elsewhere, they also proved to be a very valeable teaching device.