Office of Aerospace Medicine Technical Reports
FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute
Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-71/30
Title and Subtitle: Attitudes and motivational factors in terminal area air traffic control work
Report Date: July 1971
Authors: Smith RC, Cobb BB, Collins WE
Abstract: A sample of 614 journeymen terminal ATCSs at 17 high-density IFR airports, and 514 ATC trainees were administered a questionnaire which asked them to list what they liked best and what they liked least about ATC work in general; in addition, ATCSs made similar lists for work at their assigned facilities.
Responses were surveyed for clusters, and nine response categories were established. The frequency of responses within each category was tabulated. The pattern of responses from ATCSs was noted from one facility to another.
The categories of job challenge, job tasks, career characteristics, and salary contained the most positive responses about ATC work, while the categories of management, work schedule, career characteristics, and job tasks had the most negative responses. There was a high degree of similarity between these findings and results obtained in motivational studies of other professions.
Key Words: Air Traffic Control, Job Attitudes, Job Motivation, Personnel, Psychology, Questionnaires, Psychometrics
No. of Pages: 27
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute
Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-71/30
Title and Subtitle: Attitudes and motivational factors in terminal area air traffic control work
Report Date: July 1971
Authors: Smith RC, Cobb BB, Collins WE
Abstract: A sample of 614 journeymen terminal ATCSs at 17 high-density IFR airports, and 514 ATC trainees were administered a questionnaire which asked them to list what they liked best and what they liked least about ATC work in general; in addition, ATCSs made similar lists for work at their assigned facilities.
Responses were surveyed for clusters, and nine response categories were established. The frequency of responses within each category was tabulated. The pattern of responses from ATCSs was noted from one facility to another.
The categories of job challenge, job tasks, career characteristics, and salary contained the most positive responses about ATC work, while the categories of management, work schedule, career characteristics, and job tasks had the most negative responses. There was a high degree of similarity between these findings and results obtained in motivational studies of other professions.
Key Words: Air Traffic Control, Job Attitudes, Job Motivation, Personnel, Psychology, Questionnaires, Psychometrics
No. of Pages: 27
Last updated: Friday, June 1, 2012