Final answer:
Joan is most likely to find the positive impact on students the most satisfying aspect of her teaching career, as research shows work content is a major factor in job satisfaction over financial rewards. A sense of fulfillment derived from student improvement and contribution to their growth is highly valued among educators.
Step-by-step explanation:
In determining what might make Joan's teaching career most satisfying in middle age, it's essential to consider what research suggests about job satisfaction. Studies, such as those by Saari & Judge (2004) and Judge et al. (2010), have found that work content has a more substantial impact on job satisfaction than financial rewards. Work content includes aspects such as variety, difficulty level, and role clarity.
Given these findings, it would be likely that Joan would find the positive impact on students the most satisfying aspect of her teaching career rather than a high salary, job security, or short work hours. This is because the fulfillment and sense of purpose that come from influencing students' lives and contributing to their growth can provide a deep sense of satisfaction that outweighs financial compensation or other extrinsic rewards.
Moreover, the professional relations or adequacy and the feeling of making a difference, as seen in cases such as a student's improved reading skills, further underline the significance of the positive impact on students. Hence, the most probable answer to what Joan finds most satisfying about her career would be option c, the positive impact on students.
Therefore answer is c. Positive impact on students.