EFFECTS OF PREVIOUS JOB EXPOSURE AND SUBSEQUENT JOB STATUS ON THE FUNCTIONING OF A REALISTIC JOB PREVIEW

In a longitudinal field experiment, applicants for a correctional offi cer position were randomly assigned to two groups. One group was expos ed to a videotaped realistic job preview designed to lower expectation s, the second group was not exposed to the preview. Participants also completed attitudinal and descriptive survey measures at three points in time. Among the qualified applicants who were offered employment (n = 1,117), 358 accepted positions as correctional officers. The previe w resulted in a lower rate of job acceptance among applicants with pre vious exposure to the job and a higher rate of acceptance among applic ants with no previous job exposure (p<.05). Among officers with previo us job exposure who saw the preview, retention was significantly lower (p<.05) during a probationary employment period, and significantly hi gher (p<.05) after the probationary period. Results of the survey meas ures suggested that persons may have interpreted the realistic informa tion differently depending upon their prior exposure to the job.