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Motivating child welfare case managers: An application and extension of feedback information theory

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  • Preston, Mark S.

Abstract

No empirical studies in the child welfare literature have examined how job characteristics impact work motivation. The present study addresses this conspicuous research gap by surveying 419 county-based child welfare case managers across the state of New York. As predicted by feedback information theory, work motivation was enhanced by instrumental feedback and reduced when job complexity was introduced as a moderator. Consistent with the challenge–hindrance stress model, job control positively influenced job complexity's affects on the instrumental feedback–work motivation relationship. Findings advance the child welfare literature by demonstrating that the motivational effects of instrumental feedback are both conditional and dynamic.

Suggested Citation

  • Preston, Mark S., 2013. "Motivating child welfare case managers: An application and extension of feedback information theory," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(4), pages 734-741.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:35:y:2013:i:4:p:734-741
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2013.01.014
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ellett, Alberta J., 2009. "Intentions to remain employed in child welfare: The role of human caring, self-efficacy beliefs, and professional organizational culture," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(1), pages 78-88, January.
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    4. Courtney, Mark E. & Needell, Barbara & Wulczyn, Fred, 2004. "Unintended consequences of the push for accountability: the case of national child welfare performance standards," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(12), pages 1141-1154, December.
    5. Boyas, Javier & Wind, Leslie H., 2010. "Employment-based social capital, job stress, and employee burnout: A public child welfare employee structural model," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(3), pages 380-388, March.
    6. Faller, Kathleen Coulborn & Grabarek, Marguerite & Ortega, Robert M., 2010. "Commitment to child welfare work: What predicts leaving and staying?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(6), pages 840-846, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Preston, Mark S., 2015. "Case manager job strain in public child welfare agencies: Job demands and job control's additive effects, and instrumental feedback's mediating role," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 30-40.
    2. Preston, Mark S., 2013. "Advancing case manager motivation in child welfare: Job control's curvilinear relationship and instrumental feedback's moderating influence," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(12), pages 2003-2012.

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