The Effects of Equal Opportunity Fairness Attitudes on Job Satisfaction, Organizational Commitment, and Perceived Work Group Efficacy

Abstract

We examined a causal model relating military respondents’ attitudes toward equal opportunity (EO)-related fairness to job satisfaction, organization commitment, and perceptions of work group efficacy. A distinction between EO fairness at the work group and organizational levels was made. Respondents’ perceptions of organizational EO-related fairness were hypothesized to influence perceptions of work group EO fairness. Respondents’ perceptions of work group EO fairness were in turn hypothesized to influence their organizational commitment, job satisfaction, and perceived work group efficacy. Structural equation modeling with a measurement model sample and two random samples each consisting of 5,000 observations provided support for these hypothesized paths. As a part of the investigation, we also examined and found support for causal linkages between perceived work group efficacy, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment. The practical and theoretical importance of the findings for the U.S. military, particularly with regard to issues of retention and training, are discussed.