Anchoring Legislative Careers

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-2001

Publication Title

Legislative Studies Quarterly

Publisher

Comparative Legislative Research Center

Volume

26

Issue

1

Abstract

A general theory developed in industrial psychology, career anchor theory, can be used to aid in understanding legislators' orientations toward their careers. To determine if legislative anchors exist, I used data from a survey conducted in 1995 of North Carolina legislators. I employed factor analysis of thirteen closed-ended items previously associated with career anchors and the results showed that three legislative anchors do exist: power, service, and specialization. I then assigned factor scores to legislators. A cluster analysis uncovered five groups of legislators, each with a different pattern of association toward the three anchors. Legislative career orientation was associated with attainment of a leadership position, political ambition, and acceptance of legislative norms.

Keywords

Careers; North Carolina; Politicians; State legislators

Disciplines

Industrial and Organizational Psychology | Political Science | Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration

Language

English

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