Kenneth W. Kerber

Personality Characteristics of American Gun-Owners

The purposes of the present study were to explore the reasons behind gun ownership and to gather evidence concerning popular stereotypes of gun-owners. Male gun-owners (n = 37) and a matched sample of nongun-owners (n = 23) reported demographic information, reasons for gun ownership, knowledge about guns, and experience with firearms. Ss also completed several personality inventories. Results indicated that gun-owners differed greatly from nongun-owners in their knowledge and interest in firearms. It appeared that early socialization to guns was a primary factor in firearm ownership. While gun-owners stated that recreation and defense were the primary reasons for owning guns, they also had personalities which were characterized by lower sociability and higher need for power than the nongun-owners. The gun-owners on the average did not exhibit atypical personality characteristics when compared with the nongun-owners or with national norms on the California Psychological Inventory. However, the small sample and the high educational level of gun-owners in this study indicate caution when generalizing these findings.

Attitudes towards specific uses of the computers quantitative, decision-making and record-keeping applications

Abstract A survey of 203 undergraduates indicated that there are three clusters of computer applications about which respondents hold similar attitudes: quantitative applications (e.g. processing bills), decisionmaking applications (e.g. diagnosing medical problems) and record-keeping applications (e.g. storing information about criminals). Respondents were favourable towards quantitative and record-keeping applications but rejected decisionmaking applications, especially those involving decisions traditionally made by psychologists. Experience with computers and perceptions of the computer as efficient, humanizing and enjoyable were correlated significantly with attitudes towards specific applications. Locus of control and interpersonal trust were not related to attitudes. Interpretations of potentially dehumanizing effects of computers were discussed, along with implications of attitudes towards specific applications for decisions about how computers ought to be used.

JOB SATISFACTION: IDENTIFYING THE IMPORTANT PARTS AMONG COMPUTER SALES AND SERVICE PERSONNEL

This article examines overall and job facet satisfaction among computer salesN=552) and service (N=1489) personnel. Results of an anonymous questionnaire indicated that seven of nine job facets were similar in the two samples. However, facets in field service referring to the company and working conditions were replaced in sales by facets concerning work-related information and problem resolution. Existing multifacet measures of job satisfaction would not have identified problem resolution as an important facet. While they are valuable for basic research, standardized multifacet satisfaction measures may not be as useful when the goal is to improve the work situation by identifying issues of concern to employees in different occupations.

Correlates of Objective Performance Among Computer Salespeople: Tenure, Work Activities, and Turnover

AbstractThis exploratory study examines three correlates of objective sales performance: tenure, work activities, and organizational turnover. Analysis of the results of a time diary completed by 58 computer salespeople revealed three groups of work activities: contacting customers, processing orders, and dealing with co-workers. Higher sales performance was associated with additional time spent processing orders, but was unrelated to the time spent contacting customers or interacting with co-workers. Tenure at the company was positively related to sales performance. Lower sales performance was associated with turnover. Results are discussed in light of research and theory on sales performance.

Component Structure of a Measure of Job Facet Satisfaction: Stability Across Job Levels.

The stability of the component structure of a measure of job facet satisfaction was examined across job levels at a large computer company. An internally developed questionnaire was completed anonymously by 4,130 employees (1,217 exempt and 2,913 nonexempt). Results support the internal consistency and construct validity of nine job facet satisfaction scales for both exempt and nonexempt employees: supervision, co-workers, pay, managers manager, company, the work itself, promotion, working conditions, and benefits. Regardless of job level, the nine job facets formed two higher order components involving the economic and noneconomic aspects of the job. Satisfaction with the nature of the work was the most important facet for all employees, followed by satisfaction with pay and working conditions. Compared with nonexempt employees, exempt employees were more satisfied with their work, supervisors, co-workers, pay, and opportunities for promotion. Results confirm most of the major job facets identified in previous research but do not support theoretically based predictions regarding the structure of higher order compo-nents.

Effects of Role Dominance on Trait and Situation Attributions

Summary Effects of role dominance (the proportion of encounters in which an actor is seen in a single role) on the fundamental attribution error were investigated. American college students made trait or situation attributions for self and four others in two studies. As hypothesized, Study 1 (N = 75) produced more trait attributions in a single-role than either a no-role or multiple-role context, to others relative to self, and to high relative to low role-dominated others. Study 2 (N = 35) replicated the no-role condition of Study 1 with an improved response scale and revealed a significant correlation between a direct measure of role dominance and trait or situation attributions. It was concluded that, in part, the frequent use of traits to describe others may be the result of observing them in a particular role during a high proportion of interpersonal encounters: role dominance may cause role-induced characteristics to be identified as enduring personality dispositions.

Perceived Physiological Activity and Interpersonal Attraction

Summary The goal of this study was to assess the influence of the affective state of an individual on his attraction toward a stimulus person. Ss were 134 male students at a large American university. While each S listened to the similar or dissimilar attitudes of a female stimulus person, he also heard a tape recording of either a stable or an unstable heart rate, which the S believed to be his own heart rate. In addition, he was told to expect either a stable or an unstable heart rate. The effects of these manipulations were assessed with four self-report measures of attraction toward the stimulus person and four self-report scales assessing the emotional state of the Ss. Results of the study: (a) supported the similarity-attraction relationship for several different measures of attraction; (b) showed an effect of false heart rate feedback on self-reported emotional state; (c) showed an effect of the similarity manipulation on emotional state; and (d) showed an effect of false heart rate feedback on int...

Rewards, Costs, and Helping: A Demonstration of the Complementary Nature of Experimental and Correlational Research.

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