Retention of Scientists and Engineers in the Air Force: A Modified Model for Interpreting Correlates of Career Intent
Abstract
The purpose of the research was to identify factors related to career intentions of Scientists and Engineers in the Air Force. The study examined the assumptions underlying general organizational retention research for relevance to Air Force retention studies. A literature review was conducted and a theoretical discussion of the typical assumptions in retention research was presented. Several of these assumptions were shown to be questionably applicable to Air Force retention research. A survey of Scientists and Engineers in the Air Force was then analyzed and interpreted using a modified model based on the theoretical discussion. Results of the survey suggested that career-oriented Scientists and Engineers may have a different need structure than their non-career-oriented counterparts. Needs for managing and applied research seemed to characterize the non-career-oriented Scientist. Career-oriented officers were generally more optimistic about satisfying important needs while in the Air Force, and they preferred a professional-officer identity to a professional-Scientist identity. Modest correlations between various aspects of active duty experience and career intent suggest that pre-commissioning attitudes, particularly their sources and relative impact on career decisions, should be investigated further. Career-oriented Scientists and Engineers may start out career-oriented and their active duty experiences simply sustain that orientation. Likewise, the non-career-oriented Scientists and Engineers may simply perceive active duty experiences as supporting their initial attitudes regarding a military career.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1970
- Accession Number
- AD0714550
Entities
People
- James M. Thomas