Some Determinants of Dissensus on Role Prescriptions Within and Between Four Organizational Positions.

This paper has attempted to deal with a central problem in the study of social integration—consensus or the lack of it. Socialization and preparation are inversely related to dissensus on respective role prescriptions as well as on the role prescriptions of other positions. Role specificity was also found to be inversely related to dissensus on respective role prescriptions. However, the relationship between role specificity and dissensus on role prescriptions of other positions was rather weak. Some support was found indicating a direct relationship between social distance and dissensus. It was suggested that the exceptions to the hypotheses might be due to the expanding role of the practical nurse, the bureaucratization of the registered nurse role, and the institutionalized role flexibility of the physician. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]