Propensity for risk taking as a determinant of vocational choice: An extension of the theory of achievement motivation.

Abstract

94 male high-school seniors were asked to choose an occupation from each of 10 lists. Each list was representative of a Kuder vocational interest category and contained jobs ranging from very easy to very difficult. Choices were examined in those categories in which Ss perceived their probability of success as highest and lowest. An index of resultant achievement motivation was used to bisect the group, and the vocational choices of each section were shown to support the underlying model of risk taking. Individuals high in achievement-related motivation chose as if they were attempting an intermediate degree of risk. Those low in achievement-related motivation chose as if they were avoiding an intermediate degree of risk.

Does the built-environment industry attract risk-taking individuals?

“…What little systematic research has been done on this intuitive supposition has generally produced empirical evidence supporting a link between occupation choice and risk-taking propensity. Half a century ago Morris (1966) provided early supportive data on the phenomenon, and Douce and Hanson (1990) subsequently offered sexspecific evidence of a link between risk-taking propensity and occupation choice amongst females. More recent research (Pfeifer, 2011;Roszkowski and Grable, 2009) finds empirical support for the long-held presumption that public sector employees have lower risk-taking propensities than private sector employees.…”

“…If the work-place safety climate was successful, then there would be little question that the UK construction industry, for example, would not account for 31% of all UK workplace fatal in 2014 despite it employing only 5% of the UK workforce, (Health and Safety Executive, 2015). There is also little question that individuals' personalities give rise to differing propensities for risk-taking (Blais and Weber, 2006;Weber et al, 2002), with scholars long suggesting a link between occupation choice and risk-taking aspects of personality (Morris, 1966).…”

Valence of success and failure in relation to task difficulty: Past research and recent progress

“…the slope of the satisfaction curve in relation to increasing difficulty of task can be taken as an index of the strength of achievement motive" (p. 166). Morgan (1964) used this "slope index" in a study of achievement motive and economic behaviour, and studies of occupational mobility and vocational aspiration have also assumed that more difficult tasks or occupations are more attractive (Crockett, 1962;Mahone, 1960;Morris, 1966). It should be noted, however, that occupations that are difficult to attain would be more attractive, not only because they are associated with higher levels of accomplishment, but also because they usually involve a lot of other rewards as well (e.g., higher salary, more security, etc.).…”

The relation of risk-taking propensity, professional preferences and the approach to the selection of future profession

“…40). Istraživanja sklonosti ka riziku i izbora buduće profesije bila su aktuelna tema u drugoj polovini prošlog veka (npr., Morris, 1966, Musolino & Hershenson, 1977Trimpop et al, 1999). Iako su bila korisna i za istraživače i za praktičare u prethodnim decenijama, njihova generalizacija postala je ograničena drastičnom promenom sveta rada i uslova u kojima mladi danas biraju zanimanja.…”