Conducting a job analysis is an expensive and time consuming task. In most cases it involves surveying job incumbents, through interviews and/or questionnaires. A single study can consume hundreds of hours of employee time, not to mention the cost of hiring consultants. Since most organizations have many different jobs, conducting detailed analyses of every position might not be feasible. The problem is worse for researchers who might wish to tie job analysis data to other variables, but are unable to convince organizations to allow them to conduct such studies.

Luckily, there exist databases of job analysis data that contain information about jobs. The US government produced the Dictionary of Occupational Titles or DOT that contains such information (see pp. 62-64 of your textbook for a detailed description). Although the DOT was a good start, it has become outdated, and contained limited information about jobs. To remedy this, the US Department of Labor has created O*NET, which is an extensive database of job information, including data on dozens of dimensions. (Our own Wally Borman was one of the designers of this system.) You can download a free copy of the database, or order a CD for a nominal fee.

1. For background read chapter 3 of your textbook, paying particular attention to pp. 52-55, and 61-65.

2. Go to the links page and go to O*NET.

3. About halfway down the home page you will see the O*NET content model. It contains six domains of job information (click on each one to see the dimensions).

4. Find examples of KSAO dimensions. List four of each and indicate from which domain it came.

5. Your textbook lists the five components of the Job Component Inventory (JCI), and six categories of the Position Analysis Questionnaire (PAQ). For each of these job analysis methods, list an example of it from the O*NET, and note from which domain it came.

HINT: Be sure and take notes as you go, or download the information for later use.

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