Rebecca A. Luzadis

Changes in Pension Incentives through Time

A common assumption in the compensation and retirement literature, often necessitated by lack of data, is that company-sponsored pensions are static institutions. The present paper, a study of the pension plans at 14 companies for the years 1960, 1970, and 1980, challenges this assumption, showing that pension schemes are actually quite dynamic over time. Specifically, the authors find that in 1960 all 14 pension plans tended to reward delayed retirement, but by 1980 many of the union plans actively encouraged early retirement. Nonunion plans in the sample, however, rewarded deferred retirement in all three years. The observed changes in pension incentives may have resulted in part from statutory increases in the age at which workers can be forced to retire by an employer.

The Importance of Perceived Task Difficulty in Goal Orientation—Assigned Goal Alignment

This study investigated the moderating effect of perceived task difficulty on the relationship between goal alignment and task performance. Using a sample of 131 participants, the relationship between trait learning goal orientation, assigned goal condition, and task performance was assessed. Results indicated that goal alignment was not significantly related to task performance overall. Perceived task difficulty did significantly moderate this relationship.

Development and Psychometric Assessment of the Healthcare Provider Cultural Competence Instrument

This study presents the measurement properties of 5 scales used in the Healthcare Provider Cultural Competence Instrument (HPCCI). The HPCCI measures a health care provider’s cultural competence along 5 primary dimensions: (1) awareness/sensitivity, (2) behaviors, (3) patient-centered communication, (4) practice orientation, and (5) self-assessment. Exploratory factor analysis demonstrated that the 5 scales were distinct, and within each scale items loaded as expected. Reliability statistics indicated a high level of internal consistency within each scale. The results indicate that the HPCCI effectively measures the cultural competence of health care providers and can provide useful professional feedback for practitioners and organizations seeking to increase a practitioner’s cultural competence.