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Task Role Ambiguity, Satisfaction, and the Moderating Effect of Task Instruction Source

California State University, Chico

L. L. Cummings

Northwestern University

The literature regarding the relationship between role ambiguity and satisfaction has produced mixed results. Evidence suggests that factors such as the source of role expectations may affect this relationship. In order to examine one source of expectations (the supervisor), an experiment was conducted in which ambiguity (presence/absence of task clarity instructions) and instruction source (supervisor, nonsupervisor) were manipulated within the same objective task environment. Thirty-two men and 65 women participated in a full factorial design. An instruction source, satisfaction with supervisor interaction (F(1,92) = 3.5, p < .07) was found, supporting the general proposition that the source of task role expectations would affect the relationships between role ambiguity and satisfaction.

Human Relations, Vol. 39, No. 11, 1017-1032 (1986)
DOI: 10.1177/001872678603901105


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