Operationalizing the Moskos institution-occupation model: An application of Gouldner's cosmopolitan-local research

Evaluated the problems of developing and validating measures of institutional-occupational orientations in the US Air Force. The measures were developed by modifying A. W. Gouldner's (see PA, Vol 33:4757 and 33:8067) cosmopolitan-local measurement. A questionnaire was administered that contained 8 attitudinal items concerning military and civilian life, a measure of career intent, a job satisfaction measure, and several demographic questions. Factor analysis of the 8 attitudinal items revealed 2 independent dimensions: Institutional and Occupational Orientations. Hypothesized differences between various demographic groups in a survey of 10,687 Air Force personnel of various grades, seniority levels, and educational levels were observed. The Institutional orientation was positively associated with career intent, seniority, and job satisfaction, whereas the Occupational orientation was negatively associated with those criteria. It is concluded that the developed measures provide the means to assess trends longitudinally in the military, as posited by C. Moskos (1977). (24 ref)