Occupational Attitudes Survey – Part A (Need-Strength Scales)

The nice thing about this job is that when you do something well you know that you're going to get the credit for it.

When you work as closely as we do it sometimes is difficult to prevent arguments. But I wouldn't trade it for anything. I've been working with this bunch for quite a few years and I think that's about the best thing here—the fact that I have so many close friends.

Yes, I sometimes work pretty hard even when I don't have to. But that's just so I can know I did a good job. It's important for me to do a good job according to my own standards.

I like being supervisor. There is a good feeling of satisfaction that comes with being able to give the orders rather than having to take them.

When I think of the number of people that are benefitted as a direct result of my work I really feel swell. I wouldn't be doing anything else. Doing work like this that gives me a chance to help those who need it is very important to me.

I like to be myself. That may sound funny, but just think of all the times when you have to act in a way that's different from what you know you are. None of that for me. I always like to act just as I think of myself.

The reason I moved into this neighborhood is that here I can own one of the nicest houses on the block. If I moved into a higher-class community I would probably be living in a house that was far from being the nicest. I like the place I live in to be at least as nice as most around.

I get my ideas of right and wrong from the Bible. Others may get theirs from other sources maybe; but just so long as you do have some set of rules by which you live, you're O.K. It's important to have your life governed by something 'higher' like that.

I refused the chance for promotion for just one reason. Here my work is laid out for me and I know just what is expected of me. I'm working under the supervision of one of the best guys in the outfit. I like working for a guy like that—I know I'll get all the help and advice I need.

It may give you an uncomfortable feeling to have to try something new on your own, something that hasn't been done before, but I really like it.

What keeps me here at this place is that I know my job is permanent. I may not move ahead very rapidly or get such big salary increases, but I know that this company is here to stay and so is my job. That's what I need to feel comfortable—the knowledge that my job is always going to be here for me.

Well, it's just that I don't like anybody telling me how to do things. Sure I take advice and orders from my bosses, but I don't particularly like it. I mostly like to do things on my own, without having somebody telling me how.

I like to know that people know what I'm doing and that they appreciate it. I like to get some kind of appreciation from somebody that counts when I do something.

I like being with people. I like my friends where I work; I like meeting new customers, and I like spending lots of time with my wife and kids.

When I do something I like to do it well! That's a very important thing with me—knowing that I've done a good piece of work.

I like being foreman because it gets you out of the rut and a little bit on the top of the heap. I like being able to tell my men how to do things correctly, and it gives me a good feeling that I know more than they and can tell them how things are to be done.

I get a great kick out of helping people. I belong to a club that works to help orphans in Europe. I also spend some time working with poor people in this city. There's nothing as self-satisfying as knowing that you've done something to help some person not as well off as you.

What I like about this job is that I can say what I think, do what I think I ought to and act just the way I feel.

I like to be able to enjoy the things my friends have. If all my neighbors have cars, I want to be able to have one; if they can send their kids to a summer camp, I want to be able to send mine to one at least as nice.

I have an idea of the important things in life. I know right from wrong and I live according to those ideals. I don't care what I could get for it, or what it is, if I don't think a thing is right, I just won't do it. For instance, I just junked my old car. If I had sold it to a dealer he would have sold it to somebody else, and the thing just doesn't have any more left to it. I may have lost money on the deal, but I live by a code.

It's really a pleasure not to have the headaches of responsibility. When I have to do something new I always like to get somebody who knows more than I do to show me.

I like to keep bumping into new problems. I like to figure out new ways of doing things and inventing things. I really enjoy having a problem that takes a lot of figuring on my part—it makes my work really interesting.

I must know that my future income is secure. I don't need too much to make me happy, but I would like to be very sure that I'll have my income no matter how long I live.

I like to be my own boss. Even though this job is not as good as some I might be in, at least here there is nobody to tell me what to do and how to do it. I work my own hours and do pretty much as I please. There's nothing like it.

I think those people who write anonymous poems must be nuts. What's the sense of doing anything worthwhile if you're not going to get the credit for it? That's one of the most important things to me. When I do a good job I want people to know I did it.

One of the best things in life is having a family that is always with you through thick and thin, and the same with old friends.

Sure I like a hard job. Now look, I don't mean that I enjoy knocking myself out, but when I do something I want to be able to say when I'm finished, 'Well, George, you did a darn good job.' That gives me an awful lot of pleasure.

There's really something to being a leader. It gives you a terrific feeling if you know more than those around you and if you can tell them how to do things correctly.

Some folks down at the office call me the 'Boy Scout,' but that doesn't worry me. I just get a big kick out of helping people. If you can help some down-and-outer or give some poor kid a break it really makes your heart feel good. I may not be getting as much for myself as I could, but I'm willing to take the time and trouble to help others because it does me so much good.

I have different moods like everybody else. What I want is to be able to let myself go and express those moods and feelings. Being able to express myself like that is very important to me.

Keeping up with the Joneses? Sure I do. Doesn't everybody? I just feel uncomfortable if the people around me have more than I do.

Living a good life according to my beliefs is very important to me. Some call it religion, some call it morals, or some just plain conscience; but whatever they call it, it means the same thing. I want all my actions to jibe with my fundamental beliefs.

Why push and struggle to get to the top? Whenever I have to do something I haven't done before, I know Stan is always around to show me. It sure is comfortable to know that there is always somebody to help you when you need it.

You know when I'm at my best? Just give me a tough problem—one where you can't get all the answers out of a book. That's when I can really get into it. Having to use my imagination to dream up some new things or to invent some new methods of solution is something that really gives me a kick.

To me taking a chance is pretty silly. Why risk what you have for what you might get? I keep my money in the bank and don't fool around with investments. I just couldn't take a chance on losing anything.

I don't like to have somebody over me. Even though my boss is nice, I just don't like the idea that he can direct me and tell me what to do. It's the same in my social life; I don't ever hang around with people who will tell me what to do. Even if they know more than I do, I still don't like the idea.

You know I don't think I would enjoy doing any kind of work no matter what it might involve unless I got some kind of recognition for it.

I just couldn't stand working by myself or being alone for much of the time. I like to have other people around me most of the time whether it's here at work or when I'm off.

I like to do work that's just at my level. What I mean by that is that I like to do work that's challenging and yet that's easy enough for me to do a decent job at it.

When they told me that I was going to take Sam's place (the straw boss on the job) I hesitated for a while, but when I thought how good it would be to be giving orders for a change instead of taking them, I decided that it was just what I needed.

I guess when I really stop and think about it, my greatest satisfaction in life comes from helping others.

About the best thing a man can do over the week-end is to let off a little steam. Some guys do it by bowling, others pull weeds out of their garden and others paint pictures. It's all for the same purpose though, and I think it's an important one. All week you have to go around acting like a stuffed shirt, so what better thing could you do on your time off than to act the way you like to—the way you really are.

What counts with me is not just the amount of money I make, but whether my salary is about as large as other people I know. I hate to have to get along without many of the things my friends can afford.

Look, I was offered a job paying more than this one by the XYZ Company, but I turned it down. The stuff they're making just isn't worth selling, and I don't care how much money I could make out of it, I don't think I'd sell junk like that. It's not worth what I'd have to put up with my conscience.

If a man isn't really cut out to be great, the best thing he can do is to associate with somebody and to work under somebody who is. By working under a really top-notch man one can share a lot of the satisfactions of his accomplishments.

To me it makes a job more interesting if I have to keep doing new things on my own, even if I have to take a chance on doing them wrong.