The Dynamics of Unemployment for Social Assistance Recipients

In this exploratory research study, the experience of unemployment and helping or hindering factors for social assistance recipients is examined.     

Work Values of Poor Versus Nonpoor Service Workers

The authors discuss an assessment instrument measuring work values appropriate for use with minimally skilled, economically or educationally deficient clients. Using the scale to survey the work values of 119 poor versus 119 nonpoor service workers in Nevada, the authors found more similarities than differences between the two groups, and they identify and describe seven significant value differences.     

Influences of Organizational Culture and Climate on Individual Creativity

This paper provides a framework for conceptualizing and reviewing the literature on the influences of organizational culture and climate on individual creativity. Although often treated interchangeably, culture and climate are distinct constructs operating at different levels of meaning; yet at the same time, they are closely interrelated. Culture is the beliefs and values held by management and communicated to employees through norms, stories, socialization processes, and observations of managerial responses to critical events. The beliefs and values that typify a culture for creativity become manifested in organizational structures, practices, and policies. In turn, these structures, practices, and policies guide and shape individual creativity by creating a climate that communicates both the organization's goals regarding creativity and the means to achieve those goals. The paper concludes with a discussion of issues relating to the development of cultures and climates for creativity and potential new directions for future research.     

Wooden versus Plastic Apparatus with the GATB: A Restudy

The finding of a mean difference of 11 points (one standard error) between wooden and plastic peg boards for the M-aptitude of the General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB) as reported by Kapes and Sievert (1973) led to this investigation. The intent was to replicate their research and, by the use of a broader sample range, to examine other selected variables to determine whether any differences remained constant across the population. The results of the study indicated that individuals tested on the wooden equipment perform significantly higher than those individuals tested on the plastic equipment. Converted score differences for the M-aptitude indicated an average difference of approximately 10.5 points in favor of the wooden apparatus.