The assessment of changes in attitude during industrial rehabilitation

Abstract

This investigation was undertaken to validate the widely held assumption that a course at a Ministry of Labour Industrial Rehabilitation Unit may improve attitudes in clients. In order to do this, relevant attitudes had to be identified and suitable means of assessing them provided. As a result of a pilot study two major attitudes, ' Inadequacy' and 'Keenness for Work' were identified. The hypotheses were set up that a reduction in Inadequacy would occur during industrial rehabilitation, but that Keenness for Work would remain unchanged. Attitude scales were developed to measure Inadequacy and Keenness for Work. Both achieved an acceptable level of reliability and validity. An attempt to use a check list for attitude assessment proved unsuccessful. A shortened form of the Maudsley Personality Inventory was used to help in the interpretation of the other measures and to test the subsidiary hypotheses that a reduction in neuroticism but no change in extraversion would occur during rehabilitation. All measures were administered to 327 male rehabilitees in the first week of their course, and again to the 214 of these still available in the sixth week. Results supported all hypotheses. Further analysis of the data indicated that Keenness for Work was related to employment status six months later, age, and amount of family responsibility. Inadequacy was related to psychiatric classification. Neither attitude was related to reason for terminating the course, or to length of unemployment. Factor analysis of scale items suggested that nine factors might be involved in the attitudes considered. Results are discussed in relation to the needs and problems of attitude research in industrial rehabilitation, and suggestions for further research are given.