A Factor Analytic Study of Emerging Work Styles among Occupational Alcoholism Program Consultants

Abstract

A new occupation in the alcoholism field that has emerged in the last ten years is that of occupational alcoholism consultants (OPCs). A study of OPCs provided information on the degree to which an occupation has been “created.” Job activities of OPCs are the focus. Initially, differences were found in job activities between OPCs working at the state and local levels. State OPCs have greater diversity in their role activities while local OPCs are more involved in the “primary” activities of occupational programming. Factor analysis of the job activities uncovered work styles of the OPCs. Work styles for state OPCs involved program initiation, community organization, and expert consultation. The work of local OPCs centered around project administration, diffusion of information, and information seeking. In looking at correlates of work styles, employing organizations seem to be more important as facilitators of local OPCs' activities than of those of state OPCs. Greater work experience and supportive interaction with external groups make state OPCs less dependent on their employing organizations. Thus state OPCs may be further developed as an occupation than local OPCs, or different stages in the development of a single occupation may be represented.