We factor analyze numerous occupational skill and task characteristics to derive dimensions of occupational differentiation that are both cognitive (complexity, clerical aptitude, people-things, and uncertainty) and noncognitive (physical activity, physical dexterity, and unpleasantness of working conditions). These dimensions are discussed in relation to theories concerning occupational labor markets and relevant empirical literature. Regression analyses of the Duncan SEI and Siegel Prestige Scale on these dimensions suggest that complexity is the most important task determinant of both dependent variables. These data are used to inform debates concerning the “true nature” and construction of the traditionally used measures.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
ALWIN, D. F.
(1973) “The use of factor analysis in the construction of linear composites in social research.”Soc. Methods and Research2 (November): 191-214.
2.
BARKER, D. G.
(1969) “Factor analysis of worker trait requirements.”J. of Employment Counseling6 (December): 162-168.
3.
BARON, J. N.
and W. T. BIELBY (1980) “Workers and machines: a missing link in current stratification research,” presented at the annual meetings of the American Sociological Association, New York.
4.
BLAU, P. M.
(1977) Inequality and Heterogeneity. New York: Macmillan.
5.
CAIN, P. S.
and D. J. TREIMAN (1981) “The Dictionary of Occupational Titles as a source of occupational data.”Amer. Soc. Rev.46 (June): 253-278.
6.
DiRENZO, G. J.
(1966) “Conceptual definition in the behavioral sciences,” pp. 1-18 in G. J. DiRenzo (ed.) Concepts, Theory and Explanation in the Behavioral Sciences. New York: Random House.
7.
DOERINGER, P. G.
and M. J. PIORE (1971) Internal Labor Markets and Manpower Analysis. Lexington, MA: D. C. Heath.
8.
FEATHERMAN, D. L.
and R. M. HAUSER (1976) “Prestige or socioeconomic scales in the study of occupational achievement?”Soc. Methods and Research4 (May): 403-422.
9.
GARBIN, A. P.
and F. L. BATES (1966) “Occupational prestige and its correlates: a re-examination.”Social Forces44 (March): 295-302.
10.
GARBIN, A. P.
and F. L. BATES (1961) “Occupational prestige: an empirical study of its correlates.”Social Forces40 (December): 131-136.
11.
GOLDTHORPE, J. H.
and K. HOPE (1974) The Social Grading of Occupations. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
12.
GOLDTHORPE, J. H.
and K. HOPE (1972) “Occupational grading and occupational prestige,” pp. 19-79 in K. Hope (ed.) The Analysis of Social Mobility: Methods and Approaches. London: Oxford Univ. Press.
13.
HARRISON, B.
(1972) Education, Training and the Urban Ghetto. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Univ. Press.
14.
HAUSER, R. M.
and D. L. FEATHERMAN (1977) The Process of Stratification. New York: Academic.
15.
KALLENBERG, A. L.
and L. GRIFFIN (1980) “Class, occupation, and inequality in job rewards.”Amer. J. of Sociology85 (January): 731-768.
16.
KIM, J.
and C. W. MUELLER (1978a) Introduction to Factor Analysis: What It Is and How to Do It. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
17.
KIM, J.
and C. W. MUELLER (1978b) Factor Analysis: Statistical Methods and Practical Issues. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
18.
KOHN, M. L.
(1969) Class and Conformity: A Study in Values. Homewood, IL: Dorsey.
19.
KOHN, M. L.
and C. SCHOOLER (1978) “The reciprocal effects of the substantive complexity of work and intellectual flexibility: a longitudinal assessment.”American J. of Sociology84 (July): 24-52.
20.
McLAUGHLIN, S. D.
(1978) “Occupational sex identification and the assessment of male and female earnings inequality.”Amer. Soc. Rev.43 (December): 909-921.
21.
MILLER, A. R.
, D. J. TREIMAN, P. S. CAIN, and P. A. ROOS, (1980) Work, Jobs and Occupations: A Critical Review of the Dictionary of Occupational Titles. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.
22.
PARCEL, T. L.
, C. W. MUELLER, and L. J. HAFFNER (1980) “Race, sex, labor markets and earnings,” presented at the annual meetings of the American Sociological Association, New York.
23.
PIORE, M.
(1971) “The dual labor market,” pp. 90-94 in D. Gordon (ed.) Problems in Political Economy. Lexington, MA: D. C. Heath.
24.
REISS, A.J., Jr.
(1961) Occupations and Social Status. New York: Macmillan.
25.
ROBINSON, R.
and J. KELLEY (1979) “Class as conceived by Mark and Dahrendorf.”Amer. Soc. Rev.44 (February): 38-58.
26.
SCOTT, W. R.
(1981) Organizations: Rational, Natural, and Open Systems. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
27.
SIMPSON, R. L.
and I. H. SIMPSON (1960) “Correlates and estimation of occupational prestige.”Amer. J. of Sociology66 (September): 135-149.
28.
SMITH, A.
(1937) The Wealth of Nations. New York: Modern Library.
29.
SPAETH, J. L.
(1979) “Vertical differentiation among occupations.”Amer. Sociology Rev.44 (October): 746-762.
30.
SPENNER, K. I.
(1980) “Occupational characteristics and classification systems: new uses of the Dictionary of Occupational Titles in social research.”Soc. Methods and Research9 (November): 239-264.
31.
SPENNER, K. I.
(1979) “Temporal changes in work content.”Amer. Soc. Rev.44 (December): 968-975.
32.
SPENNER, K. I.L. B. OTTO
, and V.R.A. CALL (1980) Estimates of Third Edition DOT Job Characteristics for 1970 Census Occupation Industry Categories. Omaha, NE: Career Development Associates.
33.
STINCHCOMBE, A. L.
(1974) Creating Efficient Industrial Administration. New York: Academic.
34.
STOLZENBERG, R.
(1975) “Occupations, labor markets and the process of wage attainment.”Amer. Soc. Rev.40 (October): 654-665.
35.
TEMME, L. V.
(1975) Occupation: Meanings and Measures. Washington, DC: Bureau of Social Science Research.
36.
U.S. Department of Labor
(1977) Dictionary of Occupational Titles (4th ed.). Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.
37.
U.S. Department of Labor
(1965) Dictionary of Occupational Titles (3rd ed.). Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office.
38.
VILLEMEZ, W. J.
(1977) “Occupational prestige and the normative hierarchy: a reconsideration.”Pacific Soc. Rev.29 (July): 455-472.
39.
VILLEMEZ, W. J.
(1976) “Occupational prestige and distributive justice.”Sociometry39 (December): 355-367.
40.
WACHTER, M. L.
(1974) “Primary and secondary labor markets: a critique of the dual approach.”Brookings Papers on Economic Activity3 (May): 637-680.
41.
WRIGHT, E. O.
and L. PERRONE (1977) “Marxist class categories and income inequality.”Amer. Soc. Rev.42 (February): 32-55.
