TITLE

Are You Interested? A Meta-Analysis of Relations Between Vocational Interests and Employee Performance and Turnover

AUTHOR(S)

Van Iddekinge, Chad H.; Roth, Philip L.; Putka, Dan J.; Lanivich, Stephen E.

PUB. DATE

November 2011

SOURCE

Journal of Applied Psychology;Nov2011, Vol. 96 Issue 6, p1167

SOURCE TYPE

Academic Journal

DOC. TYPE

Article

ABSTRACT

A common belief among researchers is that vocational interests have limited value for personnel selection. However, no comprehensive quantitative summaries of interests validity research have been conducted to substantiate claims for or against the use of interests. To help address this gap, we conducted a mesa-analysis of relations between interests and employee performance and turnover using data from 74 studies and 141 independent samples, Overall validity estimates (corrected for measurement error in the criterion but not for range restriction) for single interest scales were .14 for job performance, .26 for training performance, -.19 for tumover intentions, and -.15 for actual turnover. Several factors appeared to moderate interest-criterion relations. For example, validity estimates were larger when interests were theoretically relevant to the work performed in the target job. The type of interest scale also moderated validity, such that corrected validities were larger for scales designed to assess interests relevant to a particular job or vocation (e.g., .23 for job performance) than for scales designed to assess a single, job-relevant realistic, investigative, artistic, social, enterprising, or conventional (i.e., RIASEC) interest (.10) or a basic interest (.11). Finally, validity estimates were largest when studies used multiple interests for prediction, either by using a single job or vocation focused scale (which tend to tap multiple interests) or by using a regression-weighted composite of several RIASEC or basic interest scales. Overall, the results suggest that vocational interests may hold more promise for predicting employee performance and turnover than researchers may have thought.

ACCESSION #

67333225

Tags: META-analysis;  LABOR turnover;  JOB satisfaction;  TURNOVER (Business);  VOCATIONAL interests

 

Related Articles

• A META-ANALYTICAL TEST OF A MODEL OF EMPLOYEE TURNOVER. Hom, Peter W.; Caranikas-Walker, Fanny; Prussia, Gregory; Dickey, Linda; Anderson, Joseph; Griffeth, Rodger // Academy of Management Best Papers Proceedings;1991, p210 

  We used meta-analysis to revalidate Mobley, Horner, and Hollingsworth's (1978) theory, aggregating correlations from 17 studies (N = 5013 employees) and correcting for unreliability and sampling error. Structural equation modeling showed that Mobley et al.'s model fit data but also that other...

• Employee Dissatisfaction and Turnover Crises in the Malaysian Hospitality Industry. Suleiman AlBattat, Ahmad Rasmi; Mat Som, Ahmad Puad // International Journal of Business & Management;Mar2013, Vol. 8 Issue 5, p62 

  Turnover crises have had great impacts on the hospitality industry. Many studies have been done on employee turnover, but further investigation is needed as labor intensive employees are part of the hospitality product. This study reviews the literature relevant to turn over crises and provides...

• A Review and Meta-Analysis of Research on the Relationship Between Behavioral Intentions and Employee Turnover. Steel, Robert P.; Ovalle II, Nestor K. // Journal of Applied Psychology;Nov84, Vol. 69 Issue 4, p673 

  Behavioral intentions have an expanding role in the field of turnover research. They are becoming increasingly indispensable to empirical and theoretical work linking turnover behavior to psychological antecedents. A literature review of published and unpublished works was undertaken to examine...

• A Meta-Analytic Review of Occupational Commitment: Relations With Person- and Work Related Variables. Kibeom Lee; Carswell, Julie J.; Allen, Natalie J. // Journal of Applied Psychology;Oct2000, Vol. 85 Issue 5, p799 

  Relations between occupational commitment (OC) and several person- and work-related variables were examined meta-analytically (76 samples; across analyses, Ns ranged 746-15,774). Major findings are as follows. First, OC was positively related to job-focused constructs such as job involvement and...

• Employee Turnover Statistics Remain a Great Tool. Zografos, George // Franchising World;Jan2006, Vol. 38 Issue 1, p36 

  The article focuses on the benefits of employee turnover statistics to franchises. Some of the aspects of the business to be considered by an executive in determining the factors that influence the statistics are employee motivation, training and benefits. Work environment, respect and...

• Defection Alert! Galagan, Pat // T+D;Jan2010, Vol. 64 Issue 1, p27 

  The article discusses results from an October 2009 report "Keeping Your Team Intact: A Special Report on Talent Retention" by the Deloitte Consulting company, which found that the employees who kept their jobs through workforce plans and layoffs could be ready to leave. Almost half of the...

• WHAT WOULD YOU CONSIDER TO BE A 'HEALTHY' LEVEL OF STAFF TURNOVER?  // Personnel Today;4/12/2005, p46 

  The article presents statistical information on employee turnover and their performances.

• A BIT OF POSITIVE SPIN. Cotton, Charles // People Management;12/18/2003, Vol. 9 Issue 25, p23 

  Presents the latest survey from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development of Great Britain on labor turnover in 2002. Percentage decrease in labor turnover; Comparison of the 2000, 2001 and 2002 statistics on labor turnover; Factors that contributed to the decline in labor turnover.

• Research Note: Determinants of Turnover Intentions Among Retail Pharmacists. Schulz, Richard M.; Bigoness, William J.; Gagnon, Jean Paul // Journal of Retailing;Spring87, Vol. 63 Issue 1, p89 

  This study examined the determinants of turnover intentions among 228 retail pharmacists. Age, tenure, and salary were all inversely correlated with turnover intentions. On the other hand, job dissatisfaction and weekend and weeknight hours worked were positively correlated with turnover...

Read the Article