Examination of the difference in motivation to attain social power in male assistant hospital administrators and female directors of nursing

Female directors of nursing and male assistant hospital administrators throughout the state of Utah were surveyed for their response to a questionnaire designed to measure their motivation to attain social power. The major reason for the study was to analyze the differences. The two groups were separated and a Male Power Scale for the males and a Female Power Scale for the females was constructed. There was no significant difference of the female's response when compared to the Male Power Scale. There was, however, a significant difference in the male's response on the Female Power Scale, with the male's responses being dominant. The results were interpreted to mean that each group has a different power "theme" of what they perceived as being power. The females agree with the male's perception of what constitutes power, but the males do not agree with what the females' perceive as being power. The male were much more motivated to attain power in concrete area, such as control of finances and property, whereas the females desired control of more abstract areas, such as being in charge of social programs and developing regulations governing behavior within an organization.