Work-Related Reinforcer Patterns in Occupational Therapy

Abstract

As students complete fieldwork courses, the source of work reinforcement provided by the practice environment is likely to alter their perception of occupational therapy as a career. The level of responsibility increases substantially when full qualifications are acquired, and it is possible that the original priority given to work-related reinforcers will also change. With a stratified random sample of 120 occupational therapists and students, issues surrounding different reinforcer patterns were investigated using the Minnesota Job Description Questionnaire, Research Version (Dawis & Lofquist, 1984). Significant differences at the .01 level were found on Achievement, Advancement, Authority, and Creativity, and at the .05 level on Activity, Security, Recognition, and Supervision-Technical.

Keywords

work adjustment reinforcement students clinicians supervisors

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