Role Conflict and Army Public Affairs Officers.

A field study into whether role conflict was present in the professional lives of Army Public Affairs Officers PAOs. Role conflict defined as the drive state resulting from simultaneous perception of differing expectations, legitimately held by reference groups. Role expectations defined as shared behavioral prescriptions. Legitimacy was the subjective acknowledgement of the right of an expectation holder to that expectation. Reference groups were those for whom the PAOs position is interactive. Questionnaire data obtained from 51 non-PAO Army officers, 70 PAOs, and 46 working press members. Respondents indicated expectations held for the PAOs behavior and the legitimacy of those expectations. Respondents indicated behavioral responses expected in given situations and any role conflict caused. Results show role conflict in PAOs professional lives as a result of interaction between expectations and legitimacy. Role conflict was not influenced by rank, career specialty, or source of PAO training. PAOs are not evaluating legitimacy separate from expectations. In compatibility of expectations was a better predictor of role conflict than legitimacy. Further research recommended into 1 relationship between expectations, legitimacy and role conflict, and 2 impact of role conflict on public relations practitioners and organizations they serve. Changes recommended in PAO training. Author