What is Structural Equation Modeling (SEM)

Research in career and technical education stresses job skills, training, as well as knowledge of team work and positive work behavior. However, information regarding affective work performance is often misunderstood or misrepresented, even by well meaning teachers. This chapter is a review of salient factors affecting worker attitudes and behaviors that can be used by CTE educators and researchers to improve their educational strategies. The Occupational Work Ethic Inventory (OWEI) has been used to collect work ethic data from business and industry workers and their supervisors from several occupational areas. These results have been investigated and their relative rating of work ethic factors are reported. CTE specialists and teachers should consider research methods that utilize 21st Century statistics and techniques to assist students in working with groups and in developing work relevant curriculum. Additional research in affective workplace performance utilizing the OWEI could be useful in developing performance standards for performance improvement of workers.