ABSTRAK
This is the fourth in a series of symposia that seek to assess over time the potential and progress in studies of the full range of burnout phenomena. The symposia have appeared at regular intervals (Golembiewski, 1984, 1986, 1989), and chronicle developments in the burgeoning area of research and commentary. The end is nowhere in sight, as this fourth symposium seeks to demonstrate. In fact, only in recent times have the major pay0offs begun to surface in numbers. Specifically, this fourth version appears in two parts. This opener deals with a range of empirical studies of the burnout syndrome. Part 2, which will appear in a later number of this Journal, focuses on empirical research devoted to a single operational definition-- the phase model of burnout.