THE EFFECTS OF EDUCATIONAL-LEVEL ON CORRECTIONAL OFFICER JOB-SATISFACTION

This study examined the effects of educational level on correctional officer job satisfaction. The Cornell Job Descriptive Index was used to measure satisfaction with type of work, pay, promotional opportunities, supervision, and coworkers. Age, sex, race, work setting, length of service, and rank were used as control variables in the analysis of the data. A questionnaire survey of correctional officers was conducted at two federal prisons. The response rate was 97 percent (N = 154). Data were analyzed both nonparametrically (Kruskal-Wallis, Kendall's tau) and parametrically (analysis of variance, dummy-variable multiple regression). Prior research has indicated that education raises a person's aspirations and expectations. These aspirations and expectations may not be fulfilled if a college-educated person finds himself or herself working in a blue-collar occupation. In the present study, it was hypothesized that correctional officers with higher levels of education would report lower job satisfaction. This hypothesis was not confirmed. © 1991.