The Effects of Computer Administration and Identification on the Job Descriptive Index (JDI)

The purpose of this study was to test the effects of computer administration and identification of respondents on responses on the Job Descriptive Index (JDI). Affordable and user-friendly computer technology has made it possible to administer organizational surveys on computers. However, the effect of this recent technology on survey responses is not certain. In addition to response bias, the study compared the differences in candor, enjoyability, and reliability of responses between paper-and-pencil and computer administration. One hundred seventy-six subjects were randomly assigned to computer or paper-and-pencil administration of the survey, and to three levels of identification. Subjects completed the JDI and additional questions on paper-and-pencil or on computer terminals. The equivalent levels of job satisfaction on both methods of administration demonstrate the feasibility of computer administration of the JDI. In addition, the JDI subscales demonstrated similar levels of reliabilities on computer and on paper-and-pencil. Identification of subjects influenced responses on the Supervision subscale only, identified subjects scoring higher than anonymous participants. Subjects perceived both methods of administration as being equally truthful and enjoyable.