Abstract
The main purpose of this study was to explore to what degree the Job Characteristics Model and the Demand-Control-Support Model corresponds to reflections about psychosocial work environment collected using SWOT-structured, open question interviews. The second purpose was to explore the SWOT-based interview method as an alternative assessment tool. Forty members of staff in a public organization in Oslo were interviewed (N = 40). Their reflections were transcribed, extracted and categorized at the SWOT-structure (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats), and organizational level (individual, group, leadership and organization). Of the in total 1855 statements about psychosocial work environment classified at SWOT and organizational level, 12.5 percent matched the Job Characteristics Model and 26.25 percent matched the Demand-Control-Support Model. The Job Characteristics Model accounted for a larger proportion of positive and future-oriented reflections than the Demand-Control-Support Model, while the Demand-Control-Support Model accounted for a larger proportion of reflections on group level. Both models accounted for a smaller proportion of leadership reflections than reflections on the organizational level. This indicates that the SWOT-interview may be a more dynamic and flexible method for mapping psychosocial environments than tools based on specific models.