Zaznane značilnosti dela in delovnega okolja med mladimi raziskovalci v Sloveniji : magistrsko delo

Hribernik, Ana (author), Babnik, Katarina (mentor)

Med raziskovalci v zgodnji karieri se že leta krepi pojav prekarnosti. Negotovi zaposlitveni pogoji, prevelike obremenitve, izkoriščenost in druge stiske mladih raziskovalcev pomembno vplivajo na njihovo namero o vztrajanju v raziskovalni karieri. V magistrskem delu smo z empirično kvantitativno raziskavo na vzorcu slovenskih mladih raziskovalcev in največ sedem let zaposlenih raziskovalcev (N = 210) preučevali, kakšna je vloga zaznanih značilnosti dela in delovnega okolja ter dostojnega dela pri zadovoljenosti delovnih potreb in pri zaznanem nadzoru nad kariero. Oprli smo se na sodobno teorijo psihologije dela, v kateri so avtorji za osrednja konstrukta opredelili zaznan nadzor nad kariero in dostojno delo, ki omogoča zadovoljevanje potreb po preživetju, prispevanju družbi in samodoločenosti. Uporabili smo Vprašalnik delovnih zahtev in virov (JD-RQ), Lestvico dostojnega dela (DWS), Lestvico zaznanega nadzora nad kariero (WVS) in Lestvico zadovoljenosti delovnih potreb (WNSS), ki smo prevedli in validirali za potrebe magistrskega dela. Rezultati se delno ujemajo z ugotovitvami predhodnih raziskav. Mladi raziskovalci kljub nekaterim razlikam v starosti, raziskovalnih nazivih in med visokošolskim ter državnim sektorjem, zaznavajo razmeroma visoke delovne zahteve in vire, ki vodijo v večjo motivacijo za delo, rast in učenje. Viri v primerjavi z zahtevami pomembno napovedujejo zadovoljenost delovnih potreb in zaznan nadzor nad kariero. V okviru dostojnega dela sta se za pomembna napovednika zadovoljenosti delovnih potreb izkazali fizična in medosebna varnost delovnih pogojev in komplementarnost organizacijskih vrednot ter družinskih in socialnih vrednot. Kljub spodbudnim rezultatom so udeleženci opozorili na pojav mentorskega mobinga, neustrezen plačni sistem in številne druge vrzeli v javnem raziskovalnem sistemu. Mladi raziskovalci so ranljiva skupina delavcev, pri katerih bi lahko izboljšanje delovnih pogojev pomembno prispevalo k večjemu zadovoljstvu pri delu in nameri o nadaljevanju raziskovalne kariere. Prispevek raziskave je v boljšem razumevanju izkušenj mladih raziskovalcev in ponuja izhodišča za nadaljnje raziskovanje in oblikovanje ukrepov za optimalno podporo raziskovalcem na začetku svoje raziskovalne kariere.

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: mladi raziskovalci, značilnosti dela, delovno okolje, zadovoljstvo z delom, dostojno delo
• Work type: Master's thesis/paper
• Typology: 2.09 - Master's Thesis
• Organization: FF - Faculty of Arts
• Place of publishing: Ljubljana
• Publisher: [A. Hribernik]
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: 59 str.
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-174086
• UDC: 159.9:331.101/.104(043.2)
• COBISS.SI-ID: 254274307
• Publication date in RUL: 27.09.2025

Secondary language

• Language: English
• Title: Perceived characteristics of work and the work environment among young researchers in Slovenia

Abstract

Precarious employment has been steadily increasing among early-career researchers in recent years. Insecure employment conditions, excessive workloads, exploitation, and other strains significantly affect young researchers' intentions to remain in research profession. This master's thesis presents an empirical quantitative study conducted on a sample of Slovenian young researchers and researchers employed for no more than seven years (N = 210) to examine the role of perceived work characteristics, the work environment, and decent work in work needs satisfaction and work volition. The study was grounded in the Psychology of Working Theory, which identifies work volition and decent work as central constructs, enabling the fulfillment of survival, social contribution, and self-determination needs. We applied the Job Demands and Resources Questionnaire (JD-RQ), the Decent Work Scale (DWS), the Work Volition Scale (WVS), and the Work Needs Satisfaction Scale (WNSS), which was translated and validated for this study. The findings partially align with previous research. Despite some differences by age, research positions, and between higher education and government sectors, early-career researchers reported relatively high job demands as well as high job resources, which contribute to greater work motivation, growth and learning. Compared to demands, resources proved to be stronger predictors of work needs satisfaction and work volition. Within the decent work framework, physically and interpersonally safe working conditions, and organizational values that complement family and social values emerged as important predictors of needs satisfaction. Despite encouraging aspects, participants pointed to the presence of mentoring-related bullying, inadequate pay systems, and numerous other systemic gaps. Early-career researchers are a vulnerable group for whom better working conditions could increase job satisfaction and intentions to remain in research. This study deepens understanding of their experiences and offers starting points for further research and for measures to ensure optimal support for early-career researchers.

• Keywords: early-career researchers, job characteristics, workplace environment, job satisfaction, decent work