Positive affectivity as a moderator of the objective-task characteristics/perceived-task characteristics relationship

Data from a randomized experimental study were used to examine whether the dispositions of negative affectivity (NA) and positive affectivity (PA) mod erated the relationships between task enrichment, task perceptions (job sco pe), and task satisfaction. Participants performed tasks that were low, mod erate, or high in terms of enrichment. Results of regression analyses show that the task-enrichment manipulations explained a greater proportion of va riance in job scope and task satisfaction than did the dispositions. Furthe rmore, PA, but not NA, moderated the relationship between task enrichment a nd job scope: Consistent with previous theory and research, our findings su ggest that dispositions may play a role in individuals' perceptions of situ ational characteristics, but only when such characteristics. are ambiguous.