9401084 Scott This is an award under the Grants for Improving Doctoral Dissertation Research program. It is a study of the influence of the conflict between occupational and organizational roles in producing a likelihood to leave an organization. A variety of hypotheses about variations in the extent of role strain and inclination to leave the organization will be tested by means of self-administered, mail-in questionnaires to be filled out by occupants of five professional roles in two large military organizations. The reasons people voluntarily leave organizations is one of the enduring puzzles of the study of complex organizations and employment. Previous efforts to draw predictions from role theory to predict organizational departure have not been very successful. This study will utilize a new conception based upon the conflict between occupational and organizational roles. If the predictions made by the researcher are borne out, this research should provide ideas about how to reduce a major disruption and expense faced by organizations--employee turnover. In addition to the scientific gains to be achieved by the research, this award will materially assist a highly promising student in completing research for the Ph. D. dissertation. Thus it contributes to the future scientific manpower of the nation and the thorough training of the next generation of social scientists. ***
