Final answer:
The fourth major antecedent of job satisfaction, in addition to job characteristics, individual characteristics, and social factors, is organizational factors. Research emphasizes that work content is the most strongly predictive factor of job satisfaction, while financial rewards have a weaker linkage.
Step-by-step explanation:
The four major categories of antecedents of job satisfaction include job characteristics, individual characteristics, social factors, and organizational factors. Among these, research such as that by Saari & Judge (2004) indicates that work content, which includes factors like variety, difficulty level, and role clarity of the job, is the most predictive factor of overall job satisfaction. Moreover, personal autonomy and a sense of control seem to contribute significantly to an individual's job satisfaction, as reported by Melvin Kohn and colleagues (1990).
On the other hand, financial rewards or pay levels show only a weak correlation with job satisfaction, as shown in the research by Judge et al. (2010). They suggest that people adapt to higher pay levels, which means higher salaries may not offer the same level of satisfaction after a certain point. Feeling integral to the outcome of one's work and being part of the decision-making process are crucial factors that contribute to job satisfaction. Ultimately, job satisfaction is a complex construct impacted not only by the job itself but also by the individual's personality and the social and organizational context in which they work.