Voluntary Turnover: A Review of the Literature

Psychology literature on turnover and attrition is reviewed. Each section of the review contains a summary of the relevant papers and an annotated bibliography of representative articles. Sections include 1 turnover model development and model testing 2 work investigating demographic, Psychological, and work-related predictors of turnoverattrition and 3 studies involving attrition from college and military training programs. Attrition from the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps NROTC scholarship program typically runs about 50 percent over the tenure of a cohort group. In view of the considerable cost of the scholarship program, a reduction in attrition could have substantial financial impact for the Navy. A number of the studies reviewed suggest that there are individual difference and organizational variables which relate to voluntary turnover. Among the individual difference variables are personality factors, interests, biographical information, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment. Organizational variables include such factors as supervisory style, size of work group, job challenge, and clarity of work role. Based on results of this literature search, it appears that certain individual difference and organizational variables should be evaluated further for potential application in reducing NROTC attrition.