AbstractsPsychology

This descriptive study examines the relationship between job expectations and job satisfaction in the context of adventure education (AE) field staff. An electronic survey distributed to field instructors of the Recreational Equipment Incorporated (REI) Outdoor School assessed the level to which their job expectations had been met as well as their reported job satisfaction based on the short form of the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire. Quantitative analysis of the results indicates a significant correlation between job expectations and job satisfaction. Extrinsic job satisfaction showed a stronger correlation with employee expectations than did intrinsic job satisfaction, although the difference in correlation strengths was not statistically significant. Expectations about both basic job attributes and career development opportunities correlated with job satisfaction significantly more strongly than expectations about curriculum. Factor analysis reveals that amongst other job expectations, manager communication and career development opportunities correlate strongest with job satisfaction, and represent key focus areas for AE administrators. Increasing the visibility of organizational mission statements as well as reviewing staff training models with these results in mind could help align employee expectations with reality. These results suggest that the AE industry should continue to develop its human resource savvy and monitor the evolving profile of their employees to safeguard their job satisfaction.