Job characteristics of research and development personnel: Relationships with satisfaction and role variables

Four core dimensions (variety, autonomy, task identity, feedback) and two interpersonal dimensions (dealing with others and friendship opportunities) of job characteristics were studied in a sample of 363 research and development professional personnel. It was hypothesized that the core dimensions would be positively related to intrinsic job satisfaction, while the interpersonal dimensions were hypothesized to be positively related to socially derived satisfactions. These hypotheses were supported by data from the total sample. All job characteristics were also hypothesized to be negatively related to role conflict and ambiguity. The data from the total sample supported this hypothesis fully with regard to role ambiguity, but only partially with regard to role conflict. Data were also separated and analyzed for supervisors and nonsupervisors. Implication for the management of research and development personnel are included.