Date of Conferral

2018

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Marlon Sukal

Abstract

Limited research exists on the impact of racial attitudes upon varying age groups of African American women in the workplace. The factors of conformity, dissonance, resistance, and internalization among African American women of accumulated negative experiences may affect their performance in the workplace. The purpose of this comparative descriptive quantitative study was to use the PRIAS and OCB scales to examine the impact of generational status and racial attitudes on organizational citizenship behavior in a sample of African American women. The study was guided by the theoretical framework of Ajzen's theory of planned behavior. Participants in the study consisted of individuals in Generation Y (aged 21-34), Generation X (aged 35-49), and the Baby Boomer generation (aged 50-64). Two survey instruments guided this study: the People of Color Racial Identity Attitude Scale (PRIAS) and the Organizational Citizenship Behavior Checklist (OCB-C). MANOVA and multiple regression were the statistical data analysis procedures that provided results for the 2 research questions guiding this study. The results showed statistically significant differences in racial attitudes among varying age groups of African American women in the workplace; Baby Boomers scored highest across the measures and Generation X scored lowest. Key themes related to this study were racial attitudes, self-identity, self-efficacy, racial bias, and stress-related issues. Organizations that have a limited minority workplace population will benefit from this study because workplace productivity can increase through positive interventions, awareness, and advocacy for positive change.

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