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Ego‐Involvement and Herzberg's Two‐Factor Theory of Job Satisfaction: An Experimental Field Study
Author(s) -
WALL TOBY D.,
STEPHENSON GEOFFREY M.,
SKIDMORE COLIN
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
british journal of social and clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.479
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 2044-8260
pISSN - 0007-1293
DOI - 10.1111/j.2044-8260.1971.tb00724.x
Subject(s) - id, ego and super ego , psychology , job satisfaction , social psychology , schedule , applied psychology , management , economics
Job applicants were interviewed using questions derived from Herzberg's (1959) interview schedule as part of their selection interview. In this highly ego‐involved situation they responded in a manner predictable from Herzberg's two‐factor theory of job attitudes. However, individually matched control subjects, asked the same questions in a less formal situation, gave reponses which failed to support Herzberg's theory. It is concluded that Herzberg's results are a product of ego‐defensive processes within individuals.