The causal order of job satisfaction and organizational commitment in models of employee turnover

This study examines four possible models of the causal relationship between job satisfaction and organizational commitment in models of employee turno ver: (1) satisfaction precedes commitment, (2) commitment precedes satisfac tion, (3) satisfaction and commitment have a reciprocal relationship, and ( 4) satisfaction and commitment have no significant relationship. Structural equation models with two-wave panel data reveal no significant effects bet ween satisfaction and commitment, and the overall fit for each of the four alternative models is virtually identical. Although analysis of the alterna tive models suggests the relationship between satisfaction and commitment m ay be spurious due to common determinants, alternative explanations for the se results and conclusions for turnover research are discussed.