Document Type : Research Article
Authors
1 Faculty member of the Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Isfahan
2 Faculty member of Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
Abstract
Considering the effect of attitudes on behavior, the present research was conducted to examine the relationship between Esfahan industrial managers’ attitudes toward behavioral sciences and their college majors, length of employment, and extent of their familiarity with the behavioral sciences during the years of 1998-2000. A literature review indicated a paucity of research in this area. Three questionnaires with satisfactory reliability and validity were made and used in this study.
The research population consisted of the managers of all industrial organizations having at least 100 personnel. 124 managers were selected randomly as the sample who completed and returned the questionnaires. The results indicated that managers majoring in management had a more positive attitude toward behavioral sciences than the managers majoring in engineering or the managers without a college degree. Managers with different lengths of employment were not different in their attitudes toward the behavioral sciences. However, managers having more familiarity with the behavioral sciences had a more positive attitudes toward these sciences.
Keywords
Baron, R.A. & Byrne, D. (1997). Social Psychology (8th). Boston: Allyn & Bacom.
Shaw, M. E. & Wright, J. m. (1967). Scales for the Measurement of Attitudes. New York: McGraw- Hill, Inc.
Tamkin, P. & Barber, L. (1998). Learning to Manage, Brighton: Sussex Univer sity, Institute for Employment Studies. (available at Eric Database
1992-2000/06; AN: ED 419954).
Taylor, S. E.; Peplau, L. A. & Sears, D. 0. (1997). Social Psychology (9 th edn). New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
Triandis, H.C. (1971). Attitude and Attitude Change. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Warren, N. & Jahoda, M. (eds). (1973). Attiudes (2 nd edn). London: Penguin Modern Psychology Readings.