The Relationships among Autonomy, Job Satisfaction and Motivation

Abstract

The present study sought to determine the relationship between job satisfaction, autonomy and motivation. Sections pertaining to selected facets of the Job Satisfaction Survey (Spector, 1985), Work Autonomy Scale (Breaugh, 1985), and Work Tasks Motivation Scales (Fernet, et al., 2008) were used to measure the correlates. Each correlate was separated into different facets that were measured: Job Satisfaction (Supervisors, Coworkers, Pay, & Operating Procedures), Autonomy (Work, Scheduling, and Method), and Motivation (Complementary Tasks, Administrative Tasks, and Teaching Tasks). The survey was administered to public school teachers in a large suburban area. There was no significant correlation between the correlates and most of the facets. A significant relationship was found between Autonomy and Job Satisfaction of Pay as well as between Criteria Autonomy and Job Satisfaction of Pay. Additionally, Motivation for Administrative Tasks and Method Autonomy also had a significant positive correlation.