J. Lynn England

Age Work Values

The article presents a study that examines a possible relationship between age and work values. According to the results of the study, older workers place a greater level of importance on pride in ...

The desire for an enriched job as a moderator of the enrichment—satisfaction relationship

Abstract Three kinds of moderators of the enrichment—satisfaction relationship have been examined in previous research: urban—rural influences, work values, and growth need strength. A recent review of 29 studies concluded that none of the variables tested to date evidence a consistent moderating effect and called for an end to this line of research. The present study argued that the evidence was not so pessimistic and showed that the desire for an enriched job was a significant moderator of the enrichment—satisfaction relationship. Direct assessments of the persons desire for job enrichment were postulated and found to be much better moderators than indirect estimates inferred from urbanrural influences or work values.

Two Bargaining Automata

The significance of bargaining in social interaction is widely recognized. The present article describes a pair of mathematical models of two-party bargaining. One model is a two-party version of the Bush-Mosteller linear operator learning model. The second model is a nonlinear operator learning model based on Duncan Luces choice axiom. The adequacy of the two models is examined by means of a computer simulation of the models and a set of controlled experiments. The linear learning model describes accurately in all experimental groups. The nonlinear model is not as adequate in predicting trial by trial cooperation, but is equal to the linear model in describing agreement.

A Directable Ashby System

A directable Ashby system is a system that may operate at several different hierarchical levels. Each level has a collection of laws or rules that are not reducible to other levels. In human systems, the distinct levels require views of humans that are dramatically different from each other. At some levels traditional scientific concepts and methods are applicable. A person may be said to have been caused to act in a certain way. At other levels, human choice and creativity must be accounted for by using neo-scientific concepts such as rule construction and rule governed activity. People may shift from one hierarchical level to another in so far as the essential variables, such as agency, have certain values. The scientific accounts at the two levels will be fundamentally different. A directable Ashby system is a system in which the values of the essential variables change as a result of the manipulation of control variables such as repression and lifeworld constructs.