LOYAL FROM DAY ONE - BIODATA, ORGANIZATIONAL IDENTIFICATION, AND TURNOVER AMONG NEWCOMERS

This paper attempts to use biodata to uncover behavioral and experient ial antecedents of organizational identification (OID), and to demonst rate one way in which theory can be used in the development and analys is of objective biodata. The biodata correlates of organizational iden tification were assessed with a sample of 2,535 new U.S. Army recruits . Four biodata factors emerged: activities involving outdoor work or p astimes; a dependable, non-delinquent, lifestyle reflecting socializat ion to institutional expectations; a general preference for group atta chments; and diligent involvement in intellectual pastimes. Results wi th a subset of 1,082 recruits revealed that both OID and the biodata a ntecedents predicted subsequent attrition across 6 time periods spanni ng 6 to 24 months. Results also revealed relatively high OID among the recruits.