GRATITUDE AND JOB SATISFACTION: A STUDY AMONG MALE AND

FEMALE WORKERS OF DALTON PAWNSHOP

An Undergraduate Research
Presented to The
Psychology Department
General Santos Doctors’ Medical School Foundation, Inc.

In Partial Fulfillment
Of the Requirements for the Course
Industrial Practicum

By

Badilles, Ma. Luisa

Cabangal, Esther Livence

Manlangit, Angel Mae

December 2022
 Gratitude and Job Satisfaction 2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

Title Page

Introduction 3

Statements of the Problem 4

Hypotheses 4

Significance of the Study 4

Methodology 6

Research Design 6

Research Locale 6

Research Participants and Sampling Technique 6

Research Instruments 6

Data Gathering Procedure 7

Data Analysis 7

Results 8

Discussions 10

References 13

Appendices 14
 Gratitude and Job Satisfaction 3

Introduction

Gratitude is a commonly experienced emotion. Gratitude can also represent a

broader attitude toward life – the tendency to see all of life as a gift. Gratitude thus has

various meanings, and can be conceptualized at several levels of analysis ranging from

momentary affect to long-term dispositions. It has been conceptualized as an emotion, an

attitude, a moral virtue, a habit, a personality trait, and a coping response (Lopez, 2009).

Job satisfaction is typically defined as an employee’s level of positive affect toward his or

her job or job situation (Jex, 2002). This implies that the employee is having satisfaction

at job as the work meets the expectations of the individual. Job satisfaction can be

defined also as the extent to which a worker is content with the rewards he or she gets out

of his or her job, particularly in terms of intrinsic motivation (Statt, 2004). Life

satisfaction and gratitude are important for living a good life. The benefits of both

constructs have been extensively documented. They include, for instance, better mental

and physical health, more prosocial behavior, high-quality relationships, and more

meaningful lives (Wood, Froh and Geraghty, 2010; Diener and Tay, 2017).

Lee, Gu (2019) in their study positively correlated gratitude with organizational;

intimacy and wellbeing. It was reported that enhancing gratitude can increase

organizational wellbeing and hence success at the workplace which is key for the long

life of an organization. In addition, Raj and Lalita (2013) examined the level of job

satisfaction among the private and govt. school teachers. In this research, 50 Govt. and 50

Private teachers, 100 in total, working in different govt. & private schools were

examined. Results revealed that there is no significant difference in the level of

 Gratitude and Job Satisfaction 4

satisfaction of male and female teachers. Furthermore, it was again revealed that there is

no significant difference in the level of satisfaction of Govt. and Private school teachers.

Statement of the Problem

1. What is the level of gratitude and job satisfaction among male and female workers

of Dalton Pawnshop?

2. Is there a significant difference in the gratitude and job satisfaction among male

and female workers of Dalton Pawnshop?

3. Is there a significant relationship in the level of gratitude and job satisfaction

among male and female workers of Dalton Pawnshop?

Hypotheses

This is a discussion of the possible outcomes created by the researchers prior to

testing and data gathering. The statements are:

Ho= There is no significant relationship between the level of gratitude and job

satisfaction among male and female workers of Dalton Pawnshop.

Ha= There is a significant relationship between the level of gratitude and job

satisfaction among male and female workers of Dalton Pawnshop.

Significance of the Study

The researcher envisioned that the findings of this study are significant for the following:

Employees. This study is pertinent in looking into worker’s views, opinions,

experiences, and perceptions regarding the job satisfaction and gratitude they encounter

in their day to day duty at Dalton Pawnshop.

 Gratitude and Job Satisfaction 5

Dalton Pawnshop Administration. The study will make administration be aware

of the condition of their workers and help them to devise a solution if ever to make the

situation better for their employees.

Students. The result would help the students to understand and gain insight of the

current job satisfaction and gratitude of Dalton Pawnshop workers.

Researchers. The findings of this research will help us more understand as a

researcher how gratitude and job satisfaction can be perceived in different situations at

the workplace. This can also become a basis for future researchers that would explore

understanding about gratitude and job satisfaction among Dalton Pawnshop employees.

Future Researchers. The findings of this study will serve as an addition to the

body of knowledge as a reference for future studies related to the gratitude and job

satisfaction among Dalton Pawnshop employees.

 Gratitude and Job Satisfaction 6

Methodology

Research Design

This study used quantitative research design, an appropriate method of research in

conducting the gender differences of the employees with respect to the relationship of

gratitude and job satisfaction.

Locale of the Study

The research was carried out at Dalton Pawnshop which is located on Dicalungan,

Ampatuan Maguindanao.

Research Participants

The sample of the study consisted of employees of Dalton Pawnshop. A sample of

12 employees consisting of 6 males and 6 females were taken into consideration.

Sampling Technique

The study used a convenience sampling technique where only available employees

can take the questionnaire if they are available to do so during the specified schedule.

Research Instruments

The Gratitude Questionnaire-Six Item Form

The researchers utilized The Gratitude Questionnaire-Six Item Form (GQ-6) by

McCullough, Emmons, and Tsang (2002). It is a short, self-report measure of the

disposition to experience gratitude. It consists of 6 items on a 1 to 7 scale (1= strongly

 Gratitude and Job Satisfaction 7

disagree, 7= strongly agree. Items no 3 and 6 are reversed scored. The scores range from

7 to 42. Internal reliability with alphas between .82 and .87 the GQ-6 takes less than 5

minutes to complete, but there is no time limit.

Minnesota Job Satisfaction Questionnaire (short-form)

Minnesota Job Satisfaction Questionnaire (short-form) was given by David J.

Weiss, Rene V. Dawis, George W. England and Lloyd H. Lofquist (1977) Its Internal

consistency- the reliability coefficients obtained were high. On the general satisfaction

scale, the coefficients varied from .87 to .92.

Data Gathering Procedure

1. The researchers wrote a letter of request for approval to conduct a survey to the

branch manager, Ms. Marche L. Luega.

2. After the approval, the researchers send the Google link form to the manager.

3. After sending the Google link, the manager distributed the link to the employees.

4. After the survey, the data gathered have been encoded and prepared for analysis.

Data Analysis

Data analysis were conducted by using Excel. Independent t-test was applied to

assess the gender differences of the employees with respect to the level of gratitude and

job satisfaction by utilizing frequency, mean, and standard deviation. Pearson product

moment correlation was used to assess the relationship between gratitude and job

satisfaction.
 Gratitude and Job Satisfaction 8

Results

Table 1 shows that there is no significant gender difference in the level of

gratitude among the employees of Dalton Pawnshop. Table 1 represents the overall mean

and standard deviation of gratitude among males and females. The SD=0.58 for males

and SD=0.41 for females along with MEAN=3.73 for males and MEAN=3.72 for

females. It indicates that both have high level of gratitude in their workplace. Moreover,

there is no significant difference in the level of gratitude among males and females

(t=0.98).

Table 1

Difference in the level of Gratitude among male and female workers of

Dalton Pawnshop

Variable Groups Frequency Mean SD t Significance

Job Males 6 3.73 0.58 No

Satisfaction Females 6 3.72 0.41 0.98 significant

difference

Table 2 shows that there is no significant gender difference in the level of

gratitude among the employees of Dalton Pawnshop. Table 1 represents the overall mean

and standard deviation of job satisfaction among males and females. The SD=0.52 for

males and SD=0.91 for females along with MEAN=4.9 for males and MEAN=5.28 for

females. It indicates that both have very high level of job satisfaction in their workplace.
 Gratitude and Job Satisfaction 9

Moreover, there is no significant difference in the level of job satisfaction among males

and females (t=0.4).

Table 2

Variable Groups Frequency Mean SD t Significance

Gratitude Males 6 4.9 0.52 No

Females 6 5.28 0.91 0.4 significant

difference

Difference in the level of Job satisfaction among male and female workers of

Dalton Pawnshop

Table 3 shows the relationship between gratitude and job satisfaction among the

employees.

Table 3

Relationship between gratitude and job satisfaction among the employees

Pearson r Job Satisfaction

Gratitude 0.81
 Gratitude and Job Satisfaction 10

Discussion

The aim of this research was to study the relationship between gratitude and job

satisfaction as well as the difference of the level of gratitude and job satisfaction in

Dalton Pawnshop among males and females.

The results of the study shows that the male (MEAN=3.73, SD=0.58) and female

(MEAN=3.72, SD=0.41) employees indicated average level of gratitude in their

workplace. In the recent study of Chugh and Sahai (2017), gratitude generates that

climate which reaches the inwards and spreads outwards with the positivity experienced

by it. Researches overtime have concluded that sense of being grateful boosts happiness

and nurtures both psychological and mental health of an individual even amongst those

who suffer with some kind of mental health problems. Furthermore, the level of job

satisfaction among male (M=4.9, SD=0.42) and female (M=5.28, SD=0.91) workers were

very high. This indicates that the workers were very satisfied with their job in the

workplace. Job satisfaction occurs when an employee joyously feels that he has

accomplished something which is having importance and value worthy of recognition

(Goyal, Sharma & Sharma, 2012). Therefore, the term job satisfactions refers to the

attitudes and feelings people have about their work. Positive and favorable attitudes

towards the job indicate job satisfaction. Negative and unfavorable attitudes towards the

job indicate job dissatisfaction (Armstrong, 2006).

 Gratitude and Job Satisfaction 11

Finally, significant positive relationship was found between gratitude and job

satisfaction among the workers (r= 0.81). This indicates that there is a strong correlation

between the two variables i.e. gratitude and job satisfaction. Thus, the more gratitude one

expresses and practice in an organizational environment the more the job satisfaction. It

has also been reported that when employees are satisfied they bring in more efficiency,

loyalty and financial gains at the work place (Chugh and Sahai, 2017).

Gratitude in the workplace affects the performance of an employee, as it shows or

expresses the positive things in our lives which lead to success at work (Newman, 2017).

On the other hand, satisfaction in relation to gratitude, since gratitude is greatly

associated with greater happiness, according to Harvard Health Publishing 2017, it is

likely that when someone feels optimistic and positive, emotions or compliments, they

are more likely to experience satisfaction because it improves their health, deals with

adversity and can build strong relationships. In the organizational setting, job satisfaction

and gratitude shows that gratitude is effective in relieving employees anxiety, emotional

exhaustion and job stress, which increases job satisfaction (Lee et al., 2018). A recent

study stated that gratitude can predict higher job satisfaction and job performance

(Cortini et al., 2019). There are certain effects when people show their gratitude to

individuals, specifically in the workplace. In expressing gratitude, employees who

experienced such acts are likely to have an increase in wellness. It also increases better

sleeping and lessens stress which it believes has an impact in work results and employee

interaction (Tanner 2015). With this appreciation towards employees, it does not only

boost their performance in work but also it caters to the employees’ well-being and health

which affects their satisfaction towards their job.

 Gratitude and Job Satisfaction 12

Recommendation

This work has implications based on the result for employees, Dalton Pawnshop

administration, students, researchers, and future researchers. During the investigation, the

researchers identified various areas where further study was needed. The following

recommendations were made based on the findings of the study:

1. Employees must be aware that their gratitude has a great impact on their job

satisfaction.

2. The Dalton Pawnshop administration may enhance or implement

specialized novel programs, seminars, pieces of training, and workshops

for teachers that focus more on the enhancement of their day to day duties.

3. Students must be aware of the employees experiences and how they handle

everyday circumstances in facing customers while on duty.

4. Future researchers can use this study to explore beyond its scope. Also, they

must deeply study the impact of gratitude on the job satisfaction of

employees working inside the Dalton Pawnshop.

 Gratitude and Job Satisfaction 13

References

Jex,S.M. (2002).Organizational Psychology. John Wiley & Sons

Lee, S. N., & Gu, S. Y. (2019). Relation of Gratitude Disposition, Organizational
Intimacy and Organizational Well-being on Comprehensive Nursing Service
Units of Nurses. Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration, 25(2),
97-105.
Lopez,S.(2009). The Encyclopedia of Positive Psychology. John Wiley & Sons
Raj, T., &Lalita (2013).Job Satisfaction Among Teachers Of Private And Government
School: A Comparative Analysis. International Journal of Social Science &
Interdisciplinary Research ( IJSSIR, 2 (9).
Statt, D. (2004). The Routledge Dictionary of Business Management (3rd ed.) Routledge
Publishing.
Wood, A. M., Froh, J. J., and Geraghty, A. W. (2010). Gratitude and well-being: a review
and theoretical integration. Clin. Psychol. Rev. 30, 890–905. doi:
10.1016/j.cpr.2010.03.005

American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Apa PsycNet. American Psychological

Association. Retrieved December 9, 2022, from
https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2021-32766-001?
fbclid=IwAR2O7Z0Smp4iK8D2aLRZ-
33MpfBTa180OjapHlV4pKvIPU1vTHV7_qArxkE

Tanner, Kira M. Newman, Washington Post. (n.d.). How gratitude can transform your
workplace. Greater Good. Retrieved December 9, 2022, from
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_gratitude_can_transform_your_
workplace?
fbclid=IwAR2FFcfzpfOWrvagIIILTrOUxj70dmTM3_fc4CHJ__GyBIt4gylx2ROR
5Po

The psychological effects of workplace appreciation and Gratitude. Emergenetics. (2020,

December 10). Retrieved December 9, 2022, from
https://emergenetics.com/blog/workplace-appreciation-gratitude/?
 Gratitude and Job Satisfaction 14

fbclid=IwAR3LzpYbw17YAnCVYsVMkBGZfsCIqSthqWHG1RgKdM-
1Vgh6wONX37clhyA

APPENDIX A

Letter to the Manager

General Santos Doctors’ Medical School Foundation, Inc.

North Osmena, Bulaong, General Santos City, Philippines 9500

December 2, 2022
MS. MARCHE L. LUEGA
Dalton Pawnshop Branch Manager
Dicalungan, Ampatuan Maguindanao

Good Day, Ma’am:

Greetings!

The undersigned are the Bachelor of Science in Psychology students currently conducting
research for our study entitled, “GRATITUDE AND JOB SATISFACTION: A STUDY
AMONG MALE AND FEMALE WORKERS OF DALTON PAWNSHOP”

In line with this, we would like to request permission from your good office to allow us
to conduct a survey among the employees of Dalton Pawnshop regarding our conducted research.
Rest assured that the data will be kept in utmost confidentiality and would be used only for
research purposes.
We are hoping for your positive response regarding this matter. Thank you! God bless
and more power.
Respectfully yours,
BADILLES, MA. LUISA CABANGAL, ESTHER
LIVENCE
 Gratitude and Job Satisfaction 15

MANLANGIT, ANGEL MAE

Researchers
Noted by:

Ms. Risa Autor, RPm

Clinical Instructor
Approved by:

MS. MARCHE L. LUEGA

Branch Manager of Dalton Pawnshop

APPENDIX B

The Gratitude Questionnaire – Six Item Form (GQ-6)

Instructions: Using the scale below as a guide, write a number beside each statement to

indicate how much you agree with it.

7 – Stongly Agree 6 – Agree

5 – Slightly Agree 4 – Neutral
3 – Slightly Disagree 2 –Disagree
1 – Strongly Disagree

____1.I have so much in life to be thankful for.

____2. If I had to list everything that I felt grateful for, it would be a very long list.

____3. When I look at the world, I don’t see much to be grateful for.

____4. I am grateful to a wide variety of people.

____5. As I get older I find myself more able to appreciate the people, events, and
situations that have been part of my life history.

____6. Long amounts of time can go by before I feel grateful to something or someone.
 Gratitude and Job Satisfaction 16

APPENDIX C

Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ)* Short Form

Instruction: This questionnaire consists of 20 statements, consisting of items reflecting

job satisfaction of the employees. For each statement 5 options namely 5 = Extremely
Satisfied 4 = Very Satisfied 3 = Satisfied 2 = Somewhat Satisfied 1 = Not Satisfied,
please select the response which best describes you. If two choices seem to apply equally
well, circle the choice that best represents how you are most of the time during the past
month. Be sure to read all the statements carefully before making your choice.

5 – Extremely Satisfied 4 – Very Satisfied

3 - Satisfied 2 – Somewhat Satisfied

1 – Not Satisfied

1. ___Being able to keep busy all the time.

2. ___ The chance to work alone on the job.

3. ___The chance to do different things from time to time.

4. ___The chance to be “somebody” in the community.

5. ___The way my boss handles his/her workers.

6. ___The competence of my supervisor in making decisions.

 Gratitude and Job Satisfaction 17

7. ___Being able to do things that don’t go against my conscience.

8. ___The way my job provides for steady employment.

9. ___The chance to do things for other people.

10. ___The chance to tell people what to do.

11. ___The chance to do something that makes use of my abilities.

12. ___The way company policies are put into practice.

13. ___My pay and the amount of work I do.

14.___The chances for advancement on this job.

15.___The freedom to use my own judgment.

16___The chance to try my own methods of doing the job.

17.___The working conditions.

18.___The way my co-workers get along with each other.

19.___The praise I get for doing a good job.

20.____The feeling of accomplishment I get from the job.