Network Ties as a Predictor of Realistic Job Previews

Riley, Shannon A. (2002) Network Ties as a Predictor of Realistic Job Previews . Master's Thesis, Department of Communication, Central Connecticut State University.

Abstract

This investigation studied the importance of realistic job previews presented from network ties to job seekers. Communication researchers have addressed the importance of organizational assimilation and the communication needs of organizational newcomers (Jablin, 1982; 1987; 2001; Falcione & Wilson, 1988; Van Maanen, 1976; 1978). The purpose of this study was to examine how newcomers, faced with a need to assimilate to their new organization, will seek out this job related information. The research further explores the socialization processes for job seekers. The socialization process itself occurs in three stages: pre-arrival, entry and metamorphosis (Jablin, 1982; 1987; 2001). Supervisors and peers have been identified as communication relationships that facilitate socialization. The importance of network ties, met expectations and realistic job previews of newcomers during the socialization process are defined and discussed. The outcome of all these variables is job satisfaction and organizational commitment. Data was collected from the part-time graduate student population of a mid-size northeastern university. Five hypotheses were generated for this study. A survey was created to obtain data to test the hypotheses. Three were supported and two were not. However, an indirect relationship was identified and therefore two exploratory hypotheses were tested to further explain the relationship of the study’s variables. The study’s findings concluded that the important variable for job seekers is the presence of a realistic job preview. The outcome of realistic job previews is identified as job satisfaction and organizational commitment. Implications of findings are discussed and suggestions for future research are provided.