Psychology Commons^™

Book Review 2 Optimize Your Life! The One-Page Strategic Planner By Bernhoff A. Dahl, M.D., William C. Mcpeck

William C. McPeck

This is my personal review of Optimize Your Life! The One-page Strategic Planner by Bernhoff A. Dahl and published by Wind-Breaker Press in 2003.

A Multicomponent Intervention System Using Goal Setting, Feedback, And Incentives To Improve Performance In Small Service Businesses, Doug Lafleur

Dissertations

A small business servicing dealerships in the chimney lining industry was responsible for training and resupplying contractors in a propriety chimney lining system. A process was developed for sharing and comparing the dealerships' financial reports and business processes. The process involved a small group of dealers attending regular 6-month meetings called Impact Groups. A monetary incentive system was used to encourage dealers to join the Impact Groups and to maintain continued attendance and participation. Dealers took turns hosting the meetings and having the attending dealers analyze their business. A detailed list of problems and solutions was provided to each host …

Easing The Inferential Leap In Competency Modeling: The Effects Of Task-Related Information And Subject Matter Expertise, Filip Lievens, Juan I. Sanchez, Wilfred De Corte

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Despite the rising popularity of the practice of competency modeling, research on competency modeling has lagged behind. This study begins to close this practice-science gap through 3 studies (1 lab study and 2 field studies), which employ generalizability analysis to shed light on (a) the quality of inferences made in competency modeling and (b) the effects of incorporating elements of traditional job analysis into competency modeling to raise the quality of competency inferences. Study 1 showed that competency modeling resulted in poor interrater reliability and poor between-job discriminant validity amongst inexperienced raters. In contrast, Study 2 suggested that the quality …

The Alive Center (A Local Information & Volunteer Exchange): An Evaluation Of The Year 2003-2004, Joel Kaunisto

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Volunteerism plays an important role in modern American society with benefits accruing to the community and individuals who volunteer. This thesis evaluated the first year of operation of the ALIVE Center (A Local Information and Volunteer Exchange) by addressing four objectives of the program with data obtained from the ALIVE Center. To meet its first objective, the ALIVE Center maintains a current database of local human service organizations. The second objective, to establish a resource center and provide referrals and information to 1,000 people, was achieved. The third objective of maintaining a website was also met. Matching over 200 volunteers …

Book Review 1 The New Science Of Selling And Persuasion: How Smart Companies And Great Salespeople Sell By William T. Brooks, William C. Mcpeck

William C. McPeck

This is my personal review of The New Science of Selling and Persuasion: How Smart Companies and Great Salespeople Sell by William T. Brooks and published by Wiley in 2004.

Future Perspectives On Employee Selection: Key Directions For Future Research And Practice, Neil Anderson, Filip Lievens, Karen Van Dam, Ann Marie Ryan

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

A future-oriented perspective for selection and assessment research is presented. Four superordinate themes of critical import to the development of future research are identified: (i) bimodal prediction, (ii) multilevel fit, (iii) applicant reactions and decision making, and (iv) tensions between research and practice in employee selection. Under each theme we pose a number of outstanding questions for research. Implications for practice and the ongoing advancement of the sub-field of selection, traditionally one of the most robust core disciplines in international IWO psychology, are discussed.

Summarizing And Measuring Participants' Perceptions Related To Performance Appraisal Effectiveness, Stephen Henry Gaby

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was to summarize the performance appraisal literature regarding the characteristics associated with effective outcomes and then develop an instrument that can be used in field settings to measure these characteristics. A framework based on the organizational justice literature was developed to organize and integrate the various findings from past appraisal research. Characteristics which past research has found to be associated with desired outcomes were grouped into three broad categories which roughly parallel the three types of organizational justice. An instrument was then created drawing on findings from the climate literature which indicate that individuals respond …

Reducing Adverse Impact While Maintaining Validity: Finding The Balance Between Competing Employee Selection Goals, John Ashley Henderson

Doctoral Dissertations

Adverse (or disparate) impact has probably represented one of the most persistent and pervasive problems in employee selection. Innumerable approaches to eliminating its presence have been attempted, but most have been met with limited success. To date, this success has been measured in only slight reductions in adverse impact unless substantial losses in validity are accepted. While a number of reasons for these results have been advanced, this research asserted that part of the problem originated in the narrow perspective with which employee selection is often defined. This narrow perspective has resulted in a singular focus on validity with insufficient …

The Effects Of Individual And Group Incentives On High Performance, Heather M. Mcgee

Dissertations

The present study examined the performance levels of high performers under equally-divided group monetary incentives, individual monetary incentives, and hourly pay to determine: (a) whether the performance levels of high performers would be higher under individual and group incentive pay systems than under an hourly pay system, (b) whether the performance of high performers would be lower under group incentives than under individual incentives, and (c) whether changes in performance would be due to comparative feedback indicating that the participant is a high performer. Participants were eleven college students who performed a computerized work task that simulated the job of …

Pilot Performance And Eye Movement Activity With Varying Levels Of Display Integration In A Synthetic Vision Cockpit, Julie Michele Stark

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The primary goal of the present study was to investigate the effects of display integration in a simulated commercial aircraft cockpit equipped with a synthetic vision display. Combinations of display integration level (low/high), display view (synthetic vision view/traditional display), and workload (low/high) were presented to each participant. Sixteen commercial pilots flew multiple approaches under IMC conditions in a moderate fidelity fixed-base part-task simulator. Pilot performance data, visual activity, mental workload, and self-report situation awareness were measured.

Congruent with the Proximity Compatibility Principle, the more integrated display facilitated superior performance on integrative tasks (lateral and vertical path maintenance), whereas a less …

Overcoming Resistance To Change: An Analysis To The Department Of Defense's Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program, Irene C. Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this research was to investigate the impact of change on organizations, in the absence of a preparedness program and to develop strategies for overcoming resistance to change, in the midst of a proposed initiative that has become stalled as a result of mistrust and cynicism. The results of this research suggests a framework of management techniques that will offer leadership approaches to resurrecting a stalled change initiative and overcoming personnel's resistance to a proposed change project, in order for the project to be more widely accepted. A series of personal interviews and focus groups, a qualitative method …

The Effects Of On-The-Spot Observations In A Behavioral Safety Application, Sigurdur Oli Sigurdsson

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a package intervention on critical safety behaviors and conditions in a food and drinking industry setting. The intervention involved training a sub sample of employees to conduct safety observations, providing all employees with safety information, and posting weekly graphic safety feedback on six safety-related variables based on employee observations. A multiple baseline design across departments was used to assess the effects of the interventions in two dining services kitchens on the campus of a midwestem university. Overall, the intervention implemented in this study had mixed effects on safety behavior, …

Personality And Work Situational Predictors Of Exit, Voice, Loyalty, And Neglect: An Interactionist Perspective, Michelle Lynne Roberts

Doctoral Dissertations

The present dissertation investigates the degree to which personality and work situational variables are related to how employees respond to dissatisfaction in the work place based upon the EVLN (Exit, Aggressive Voice, Considerate Voice, Loyalty, and Neglect) model. On the basis of previous research and the underlying dimensions of the model, it was hypothesized that four personality variables (i.e., self-control, extraversion, proactive personality, and positive affect) and six work situational variables (i.e., prior job satisfaction, investment size, quality of job alternatives, leader support, perceptions of procedural justice, and perceptions of distributive justice) would be significantly related to the five responses …

Predicting Paricipant Activity In A Development Program: The Roles Of Personality And Performance, Maria Rose Louis-Slaby

Doctoral Dissertations

Development programs have become popular among today's managers. These programs generally involve various assessments aimed at providing participants with a broad overview of their own characteristics and performance levels in various categories. The goal of this feedback is to prompt developmental activity. In essence, a chief objective is to increase participant awareness of individual strengths and weaknesses and encourage them to enhance and exploit those areas in which they excel and improve upon areas of deficiency. In spite of that, some individuals enrolled in these types of development-oriented programs fail to actively engage in development and may simply expend time …

The Effects Of Rejected Job Offers On The Costs And Benefits Associated With The Use Of Banding Strategies For Employee Selection, Joshua Daniel

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Among the available selection strategies (e.g., top down selection), sliding bands with minority preference selection was shown to be the most effective at striking a balance between reducing adverse impact with minimal test utility loss. Unfortunately, all previous research into selection strategy effectiveness failed to model job acceptance rates, a variable shown to decrease overall test utility (Murphy, 1986). In this study we compared the utility and adverse impact ratios obtained from strict top down and sliding bands with minority preference selection strategies in which we varied selection ratios, job acceptance rates, and sample sizes. Across all conditions, utility and …

Accident And Injury Prevention: The Effects Of Job Factors And Employee Behaviors, Suzaane Dobbs

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Virtually all organizations are concerned about employee safety and the prevention of workplace accidents, but maybe unaware that most accidents are the cause of unsafe employee behaviors. In this study, one company in particular wanted to know where, when, how, and why accidents were occurring in its plant. Accidents of the past three years were content analyzed. The results show that 87.4% of the accidents were due to unsafe behaviors. The highest absolute frequency of accidents occurs in the die cast area, while the highest relative rate of accidents occurs in the furnace room. The type of accident that occurs …

Implications Of Biblical Principles Of Rhythm And Rest For Individual And Organizational Practices, Margaret Diddams, Lisa Surdyk, Denise Daniels, Jeff B. Van Duzer

SPU Works

The information technology economy with its endless 24/7 workdays has eroded the normative cycle of work and rest, and as a result, many Americans are experiencing a profound and increasing sense of time pressure. By integrating biblical passages relating to Sabbath observance with psychological and organizational empirical literature, Diddams et al seek describe the principles of rest, reflection, and relationships underlying biblical notions of rhythm; identify their associated influence on psychological wellness; and discuss how organizations can embrace a rhythmic, Sabbath culture.

Enhancing Public Trust In The Accounting Profession Using Professional Judgment Rather Than Personal Judgment In Resolving Accounting Ethics Dilemmas, Gene R. Sullivan

Faculty Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Revised Estimates Of Dimension And Exercise Variance Components In Assessment Center Postexercise Dimension Ratings, Charles E. Lance, Tracy A. Lambert, Amanda G. Gewin, Filip Lievens, James M. Conway

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

The authors reanalyzed assessment center (AC) multitrait-multimethod (MTMM) matrices containing correlations among postexercise dimension ratings (PEDRs) reported by F. Lievens and J. M. Conway (2001). Unlike F. Lievens and J. M. Conway, who used a correlated dimension-correlated uniqueness model, we used a different set of confirmatory-factor-analysis-based models (1-dimension-correlated Exercise and 1-dimension-correlated uniqueness models) to estimate dimension and exercise variance components in AC PEDRs. Results of reanalyses suggest that, consistent with previous narrative reviews, exercise variance components dominate over dimension variance components after all. Implications for AC construct validity and possible redirections of research on the validity of ACs are discussed.

Exploring The Behavioral Function Of Work Monitoring, Don H. Rohn

Dissertations

A number of studies have suggested the key difference between effective and ineffective managers is the extent to which managers engage in a particular form of monitoring - work sampling (Komaki & Minnich, 2002). Effective managers observe employees instead of relying on self-reports or secondary sources of performance. A factor contributing to the effectiveness of work sampling may be an increase in desired behavior as a function of reactivity to the presence of an observer. In spite of the large volume of research on the effects of observer presence on various physiological responses and task performances (Guerin, 1993), a study …

Development Of A Multidimensional Scale To Measure Attitudes Toward Workers With A Disability, John Kegley

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Existing measures of attitudes toward individuals with a disability have been shown to suffer from several shortcomings in their application in organizational settings. Indirect measurement has been beyond the scope of most organizations due to the complex and expensive implementation of these methods. Direct measures have been shown to be susceptible to threats to internal validity, such as reactivity and socially desirable responding. Further, existing direct measures have focused on unidimensional aspects of attitudes toward individuals with disabilities. Research, however, has demonstrated that attitudes are multidimensional in nature. There is a need for a multidimensional scale to tap those underlying …

"I Think They Discriminated Against Me": Using Prototype Theory And Organizational Justice Theory For Understanding Perceived Discrimination In Selection And Promotion Situations, Michael M. Harris, Filip Lievens, Greet Van Hoye

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Research in industrial/organizational (I/O) psychology has generally focused on objective measures of employment discrimination and has virtually neglected individuals' subjective perceptions as to whether a selection or promotion process is discriminatory or not. This paper presents two theoretical models as organizing frameworks to explain candidates' likelihood of perceiving that discrimination has occurred in a certain selection or Promotion situation. The prototype model stresses the importance of the prototypical victim-perpetrator combination, the perceived intention of the decision-maker, and the perceived harm caused as possible antecedents of perceived employment discrimination. In the organizational justice model, procedural, informational, interpersonal, and distributive fairness play …

Decision Analysis Using Value Focused Thinking To Select Renewable Energy Sources, James S. Duke

Theses and Dissertations

The United States is heavily dependent on fossil fuels to produce electricity. Renewable energy can provide an alternative source of energy for electricity production as well as reduce fossil fuel consumption. The executive agencies in the U.S. must also reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2010 based on 1990 emission levels as directed by Executive Order. However, there is currently no analysis model to provide guidance toward which renewable energy to select as a course of action. This research effort used value-focused thinking decision analysis to create a model based on inputs from the Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency. This …

Leadership And Creativity: Understanding Leadership From A Creative Problem-Solving Perspective, Roni Reiter-Palmon, Jody J. Illies

Psychology Faculty Publications

Employees in many jobs encounter novel, ill-defined problems, and finding creative solutions to these problems may be the critical factor that allows their organization to maintain a competitive advantage. Solving problems creatively requires extensive and effortful cognitive processing. This requirement is magnified further by the complex, ambiguous situations in which most organizational problems occur. Employees must define and construct a problem, search and retrieve problem-relevant information, and generate and evaluate a diverse set of alternative solutions. Creativity necessitates that all these activities are completed effectively. It is unlikely, therefore, that creative outcomes will be realized without a large degree of …

When Conscientiousness Isn’T Enough: Emotional Exhaustion And Call Volume Performance Among Call Center Customer Service Representatives

L. A. Witt

No abstract provided.

Interactive Effects Of Personality And Situation On Workplace Deviance

L. A. Witt

No abstract provided.

Personality And High-Maintenance Behavior

L. A. Witt

No abstract provided.

Development Of An In-Basket Exercise Designed To Measure Potential Leadership Skills By Coleen Beth Dennison., Colleen Beth Dennison, Bernard M. Bass

Theses Digitization Project

This research is to develop in-basket work samples to measure an individual's willingness and ability to display behaviors that are often associated with successful leadership in organizations as described by Bass.

Differences By Occupation In Perceived Face Validity And Procedural Justice Of A Common Format Application Of Hard Biodata And A Written Job Knowledge Test, Anna Maria Forsberg

Theses Digitization Project

The concept of biodata is defined as an assessment and evaluation of demonstrated to be related to personality structure, personal adjustment, or success in social, educational, or occupational pursuits.

Predicting Women's Persistence In Math And Science-Related College Majors, Claudia Jean Walker

Theses Digitization Project

The current study investigated relationships that may be crucial to women's decisions to persist in math and science-related college majors.