Vj. Fortunato et Ef. Stone-romero, Positive affectivity as a moderator of the objective-task characteristics/perceived-task characteristics relationship, J APPL SO P, 31(6), 2001, pp. 1248-1278
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.