College Students' Attitudes toward Workers' Competence and Age

Abstract

An investigation was conducted among 120 college men and women to study their attitudes toward a worker described in scenarios using the dimensions of competence and age. The attitude measure included 7 questions to be rated. Ratings were analyzed using 2 × 2 × 2 randomized groups design. Results indicated that the competence variable was significant for 6 of the 7 questions. On these 6 questions the highly competent worker was viewed more positively than the worker of average competency. Males indicated less preference to work for an older worker than did females. Students viewed the older worker as making fewer future valuable contributions and as catching on to new ideas less quickly. There was no over-all negative evaluation to the older worker except in regard to these mental and physical abilities.

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