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Instrumental and Symbolic Attributes Influencing Academic Job Seekers: An Integrative Model

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Title: Instrumental and Symbolic Attributes Influencing Academic Job Seekers: An Integrative Model
Language: English
Authors: Heng Chu (ORCID 0009-0004-2958-8669), Wenjun Yang, Chunli Ji (ORCID 0000-0003-4749-8419)
Source: SAGE Open. 2025 15(4).
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 15
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Job Applicants, Job Search Methods, Higher Education, Family Work Relationship, Career Development, Universities, Reputation, College Faculty, Labor Force Development, Intention
Geographic Terms: China
DOI: 10.1177/21582440251403789
ISSN: 2158-2440
Abstract: This study aims to fill the research gap in understanding the factors influencing job-pursuit intentions towards higher education institutions. Drawing on the instrumental-symbolic theory, it constructs an integrative model to explore how quality of work-life expectancy, career development opportunities, university reputation, and perceived person-organisation fit affect job seekers' intentions. A quantitative research method was employed, targeting master's and doctoral degree job seekers in China. Data were collected through non-random sampling, yielding 518 valid samples. The results support the theoretical model, with significant relationships found between the variables. Quality of work-life expectancy and career development opportunities, as instrumental attributes, along with university reputation as a symbolic attribute, influence perceived person-organisation fit and job pursuit intentions. The mediating role of perceived person-organisation fit is also confirmed. Theoretically, this study broadens the understanding of the instrumental-symbolic theory and person-organisation fit theory in the context of academic job pursuit. Practically, it provides strategies for organisations, especially universities, to enhance human resource management and talent acquisition.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1495892
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
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PubType: Academic Journal
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IllustrationInfo
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  Data: Instrumental and Symbolic Attributes Influencing Academic Job Seekers: An Integrative Model
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  Data: English
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Heng+Chu%22">Heng Chu</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0004-2958-8669">0009-0004-2958-8669</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wenjun+Yang%22">Wenjun Yang</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chunli+Ji%22">Chunli Ji</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4749-8419">0000-0003-4749-8419</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22SAGE+Open%22"><i>SAGE Open</i></searchLink>. 2025 15(4).
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  Data: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
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  Data: Y
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  Label: Page Count
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  Data: 15
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  Label: Publication Date
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  Data: 2025
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Label: Education Level
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Job+Applicants%22">Job Applicants</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Job+Search+Methods%22">Job Search Methods</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Family+Work+Relationship%22">Family Work Relationship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Career+Development%22">Career Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Universities%22">Universities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Reputation%22">Reputation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Faculty%22">College Faculty</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Labor+Force+Development%22">Labor Force Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Intention%22">Intention</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22China%22">China</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1177/21582440251403789
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 2158-2440
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: This study aims to fill the research gap in understanding the factors influencing job-pursuit intentions towards higher education institutions. Drawing on the instrumental-symbolic theory, it constructs an integrative model to explore how quality of work-life expectancy, career development opportunities, university reputation, and perceived person-organisation fit affect job seekers' intentions. A quantitative research method was employed, targeting master's and doctoral degree job seekers in China. Data were collected through non-random sampling, yielding 518 valid samples. The results support the theoretical model, with significant relationships found between the variables. Quality of work-life expectancy and career development opportunities, as instrumental attributes, along with university reputation as a symbolic attribute, influence perceived person-organisation fit and job pursuit intentions. The mediating role of perceived person-organisation fit is also confirmed. Theoretically, this study broadens the understanding of the instrumental-symbolic theory and person-organisation fit theory in the context of academic job pursuit. Practically, it provides strategies for organisations, especially universities, to enhance human resource management and talent acquisition.
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: EJ1495892
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1495892
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        Value: 10.1177/21582440251403789
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        PageCount: 15
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Job Applicants
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Job Search Methods
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      – SubjectFull: Higher Education
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      – SubjectFull: Family Work Relationship
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      – SubjectFull: Career Development
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      – SubjectFull: Universities
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      – SubjectFull: Reputation
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      – SubjectFull: College Faculty
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      – SubjectFull: Labor Force Development
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      – SubjectFull: Intention
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      – SubjectFull: China
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