An examination of diversity, equal opportunity climate and organizational issues in the Canadian Forces

Abstract

The present study examined the relationship between attitudes toward diversity, perceptions of equal opportunity climate, and organizational issues in a military sample of officer cadets (N = 255) who were in the process of completing their basic officer training course in the Canadian Forces. Of particular interest were gender differences in the relationship between diversity and equity climate. The study also investigated the relationship between attitudes toward diversity, perceptions of equal opportunity climate, and organizational issues, such as commitment, satisfaction, and performance (military and interpersonal aspects of performance). The officer cadets completed a biographical questionnaire followed by the Military Equal Opportunity Climate Survey, which comprised the Commitment and Satisfaction measures. Attitudes toward diversity were assessed by two measures, the Multicultural Attitude Survey and the Mixed Gender Opinion Questionnaire. Criterion data were supervisory ratings of the cadets' military and interpersonal aspects of performance. The relationship between perceptions of equity climate and attitudes toward diversity was moderate and positive. Females held more positive attitudes toward diversity and perceptions of equity issues than males. The work climate subscales, specifically, organizational commitment and satisfaction, were positively related to attitudes toward diversity. As anticipated, perceptions of diversity and equity climate were not related to military performance. Although the attitudes toward diversity scales were not significant predictors of interpersonal performance, unexpectedly, the perception of equity climate scale was a negative predictor of interpersonal performance. Possibilities for future research and implications for Industrial/Organizational Psychology are discussed.