Comments on: Two-Factor Theory http://heliologue.com/2008/11/08/two-factor-theory/ Let joy be unconfined. Let there be dancing in the streets, drinking in the saloons, and necking in the parlor. Wed, 23 May 2012 05:37:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Jamie http://heliologue.com/2008/11/08/two-factor-theory/#comment-169364 Jamie Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:43:43 +0000 http://heliologue.com/?p=2985#comment-169364 Nope, like I said it's a solid treatment from what I can tell. I haven't really studied that particular corner of the field since grad school, though. Nope, like I said it’s a solid treatment from what I can tell. I haven’t really studied that particular corner of the field since grad school, though.

]]> By: Ben http://heliologue.com/2008/11/08/two-factor-theory/#comment-169330 Ben Sun, 09 Nov 2008 16:06:36 +0000 http://heliologue.com/?p=2985#comment-169330 @Jamie: Oh hell, that's right: you're an I/O psychologist, aren't you? Well, glad I didn't make a complete fool of myself... @Conor: the 85% success rate of job enrichment isn't so much a validation of Two-Factor so much it is a validation of job enrichment. I think the crux of Two-Factor theory---that these two continua are mostly separate and non-interactive---is what's been disputed, or not sufficiently backed up by research in these intervening years. Part of the problem is that the Two-Factor theory seems intuitive, which gives it an immediate appeal. @Jamie: Oh hell, that’s right: you’re an I/O psychologist, aren’t you? Well, glad I didn’t make a complete fool of myself…

@Conor: the 85% success rate of job enrichment isn’t so much a validation of Two-Factor so much it is a validation of job enrichment. I think the crux of Two-Factor theory—that these two continua are mostly separate and non-interactive—is what’s been disputed, or not sufficiently backed up by research in these intervening years.

Part of the problem is that the Two-Factor theory seems intuitive, which gives it an immediate appeal.

]]> By: Jamie http://heliologue.com/2008/11/08/two-factor-theory/#comment-169326 Jamie Sun, 09 Nov 2008 14:17:25 +0000 http://heliologue.com/?p=2985#comment-169326 Nice essay. That takes me back! It's not so much that the Two-Factor theory has been disproven per se, but it has been superseded by more complete and more elaborate models of job (dis)satisfaction that are better supported by data. Though there's still a lot more research to be done. Nice essay. That takes me back!

It’s not so much that the Two-Factor theory has been disproven per se, but it has been superseded by more complete and more elaborate models of job (dis)satisfaction that are better supported by data. Though there’s still a lot more research to be done.

]]> By: Conor http://heliologue.com/2008/11/08/two-factor-theory/#comment-169320 Conor Sun, 09 Nov 2008 09:44:44 +0000 http://heliologue.com/?p=2985#comment-169320 Also, my day has totally been made by the fact that your header quote was from "December Flower" by In Flames. Also, my day has totally been made by the fact that your header quote was from "December Flower" by In Flames.

]]> By: Conor http://heliologue.com/2008/11/08/two-factor-theory/#comment-169319 Conor Sun, 09 Nov 2008 09:43:35 +0000 http://heliologue.com/?p=2985#comment-169319 Drawing on purely anecdotal references in my life, I cannot dispute the utter obviousness of the Two-Factor Theory. Of course, it's beautiful to see it laid out so cleanly (presumably by Herzberg in his work and certainly in your clear analysis), and I'm not saying I would have been able to realize it and formulate it myself, but I completely agree with it. As for dissenting academic opinion, can the theory really be "invalidated" for working only 85% of the time? In <em>social science</em>? I'm in the school-for-life track I think, and while some might argue that the two-factor theory could apply to education as well as job satisfaction, I feel nothing of the sort. All my buddies, though, are out in the workforce and dealing with the realization that solid hygiene does not a happy worker make. Many of them would gladly take a pay cut to spend their days doing the type of work they <em>enjoy</em> doing. Fantastic writeup, thanks for sharing. Drawing on purely anecdotal references in my life, I cannot dispute the utter obviousness of the Two-Factor Theory. Of course, it’s beautiful to see it laid out so cleanly (presumably by Herzberg in his work and certainly in your clear analysis), and I’m not saying I would have been able to realize it and formulate it myself, but I completely agree with it.

As for dissenting academic opinion, can the theory really be "invalidated" for working only 85% of the time? In social science?

I’m in the school-for-life track I think, and while some might argue that the two-factor theory could apply to education as well as job satisfaction, I feel nothing of the sort. All my buddies, though, are out in the workforce and dealing with the realization that solid hygiene does not a happy worker make. Many of them would gladly take a pay cut to spend their days doing the type of work they enjoy doing.

Fantastic writeup, thanks for sharing.

]]>