Cognitive potential and job complexity as predictors of flow

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to establish the extent to which flow can be predicted by the cognitive potential of the incumbent and the complexity of the work he/she performs. The sample consisted of 161 participants from a telecommunications company. The Flow Experience Survey (FES) was adapted and administered to the respondents. The Initial Recruitment Interview Schedule (IRIS) was used to measure capability and the Matrix of Working Relationships was used to measure job complexity. The FES and IRIS scales were subjected to factor analysis. An item analysis was also performed on the FES to determine the reliability of the instrument. There was a statistically significant relationship between capability and job complexity, but these variables did not relate to the flow experience. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Opsomming

Die doel van die studie was om te bepaal in watter mate psigiese “vloei�? voorspel kan word deur die kognitiewe potensiaal van die posbekleër en die kompleksiteit van die werk wat hy/sy verrig. Die steekproef het uit 161 deelnemers van ‘n telekommunikasie organisasie bestaan. Die "Flow Experience Survey" (FES) is aangepas en daarna toegepas op die deelnemers. Die "Initial Recruitment Interview Schedule�? (IRIS) is gebruik om kognitiewe potensiaal te meet, terwyl die "Matrix of Working Relationships" gebruik is om die kompleksiteit van werk te bepaal. Sowel die FES as IRIS skale is onderwerp aan ’n faktorontleding. Verder is ’n itemontleding uitgevoer op die FES om die betroubaarheid daarvan te bepaal. ’n Statisties beduidende verband tussen kognitiewe potensiaal en die kompleksiteit van werk, is gevind, alhoewel hierdie veranderlikes nie met "vloei" verband gehou het nie. Die implikasies van die studie word bespreek.