Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Implicit And Explicit Personality: An Integrative Approach To Predicting Aggressive Behavior In A Field Setting, Brian Christopher Frost

Doctoral Dissertations

Previous studies of aggressive personality and counterproductive behavior have typically employed only one type of personality measurement, the traditional self-report method, and have rarely attempted to predict naturally occurring behavioral indicators of aggression. This study intended to address both of those issues. Researchers, using multiple measures of other personality domains, have recently shown that explicit and implicit elements of personality interact to predict different forms of theoretically related criteria. This field study explored one of those interactive approaches, an integrative model of personality assessment for aggressive personality. Explicit elements of aggressive personality as assessed by traditional, self-report measures were combined …

The Role Of Inferential Accuracy In Performance Rating Accuracy: A Field Study Of Teacher Performance Appraisal, Cynthia L. Cooper

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Services - Urban Management

This study first assessed the accuracy of performance appraisal ratings of high school teachers in comparison to the achievement of their students as measured by Virginia's Standard of Learning (SOL) tests. The overall performance rating scores of 145 teachers were compared to the pass rates of their students on SOL end-of-course tests. The rating sub-scores in each of four domains of performance were also compared to the SOL pass rates.

The study then tested the influence of Inferential Accuracy, a model proposed by Jackson (1972), on rating accuracy overall and of individual raters in the study. Inferential Accuracy is comprised …

Factors Predicting Teacher Satisfaction And Retention In The Hampton City Schools Teacher Induction Program, Gale A. Lee

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Services - Urban Education

This descriptive and correlational study used a mixed methodology of both quantitative and qualitative data collection strategies to identify factors that predict new teacher satisfaction and retention in the Hampton City Schools' teacher induction program. In the first phase of the study, a researcher-developed questionnaire was mailed to 657 Hampton City Schools' elementary, middle, and high school teachers with 0–5 years of experience and was returned by 40 percent (n = 226) of the sample. The first phase of the study utilized a 31-item teacher questionnaire. The first section of this questionnaire requested demographic information, which helped to categorize teachers …

The Effects Of Parcels And Latent Variable Scores On The Detection Of Interactions In Structural Equation Modeling, Thomas D. Fletcher

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Numerous theories in the behavioral and organizational sciences involve the regression of an outcome variable on component terms and their product to evaluate interaction effects. There are numerous statistical difficulties with this multiple regression approach. The most serious is measurement error, requiring the use of structural equation modeling. Jöreskog and Yang (1996) described a nonlinear structural equation modeling procedure that incorporates mean structures in the covariance analysis. They demonstrated that only one indicator for the product term is necessary for model identification. Unfortunately, the Jöreskog-Yang procedure leads to biased estimates of the product coefficient. In this dissertation, I propose that …

Development And Validation Of The Sustainability Climate Survey, David Edward Hall

Dissertations and Theses

Motivated by an assumption of and concern about the unsustainable trajectory of modern human civilization, the purpose of this study was to develop a measurement tool to assist organizations striving to align their operations with principles of sustainability. The relevant context is established with consideration of the dimensions of environment, society and economy, as well as their interconnections, with an eye towards sustainability. Some of the challenges and opportunities presented to organizations by the current unsustainable trajectory are reviewed. The social constructs of culture and climate (organizational and psychological) are discussed as important to understand organizational life. I propose the …

Interaction Between The Process Used To Introduce Change And The Personality Of Organizational Members: An International Test, Terry W. Riddle Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

Organizations introduce change to strengthen organizational performance and improve effectiveness. Drawing from literature in the areas of organizational change and personality characteristics, this study seeks to uncover the influence personality has on an individual's readiness for change. Data were utilized from two previous studies that sampled both an American organization and a Korean organization. The administered questionnaires captured data pertaining to the individuals' perceptions of the change process, their personality attributes, and their readiness for change. Using a statistical method known as moderated multiple regression, the study examined whether personality moderates the impact the change process has on an individual's …

Effects Of Deployment On Homestation Job Stress And Burnout, S. Ryan Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

The Global War on Terrorism has increased the demands placed on military members. The increased rate of deployments, coupled with the reduction in resources, has military leaders concerned that these changing demands will cause undue strain, adversely affecting the military member's quality of life. This research tests the effects of active duty military deployments on homestation job stressors and burnout. Pre- and post- deployment surveys were administered to test for any significant changes that resulted from a deployment. A group of non-deploying members was also measured during the same time frame to serve as the control group. Results showed that …

Initiating An Entrepreneurial Mindset In The Department Of Defense (Dod): Testing A Comprehensive Model, Gretchen R. Rhoads

Theses and Dissertations

Transformation will become vital as senior military leaders prepare to fight tomorrow's battles. The pervasiveness of the entrepreneurial mind set within Department of Defense (DoD) organizations and the ability of senior leaders to foster that mind set will be vital. This research effort tested an integrated model of the entrepreneurial mind set and produced a framework that senior leaders can implement to ignite their organizations' innovative potential and ability to transform. The research used a questionnaire to gather data regarding three entrepreneurial mind set antecedents -- individual characteristics, process, and context -- to determine the level of influence each has …

The Friendship Group Motivational Systems: Naturally-Occurring Resources And Liabilities During The Transition To High School, Carrie Jeanne Furrer

Dissertations and Theses

Peer groups are a powerful part of young people's lives. As the first step in investigating the potential of peers as developmental resources or liabilities during the normatively stressful transition to high school, the purpose of this study was to identify and measure the features of peer relationships that shape healthy development, and the contextual conditions that promote them. The Friendship Group Motivational System (FGMS) is a new conceptualization that includes two individual level concepts (friendship group interactions and self-system processes), and an emergent motivational group-level concept (friendship group engagement and disaffection). Items were developed to measure the 13 constructs …

The Effect Of Perceived Control On The Decision To Withdraw From An Organization In An Inequitable Situation, Marilyn Susie Lawrence-Fuller

Theses Digitization Project

This project attempts to explain impulsive behavior which is described here as behavior that cannot be explained by a rational thought process. There will be a concentration on the direct relationship between perceptions of equity and the intention to quit.

Bridge Employment: Can Occupational Self-Efficacy Determine Which Bridges Are Crossed?, Alex Brody

Theses Digitization Project

A conceptual model examining the antecedents and outcomes of occupational self-efficacy among the older workforce is presented. Proposed antecedents to occupational self-efficacy included self-perceived stereotypes and work demands.

Predictors Of Attitudes And Turnover Intentions In People With Disabilities: The Importance Of Means-Efficacy, Naomi Charity Schmierer

Theses Digitization Project

This study surveyed 107 working college students with varying disabilities. Individual, job, and organizational characteristics were evaluated for their ability to predict job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and turnover cognitions. One area this characteristic that was explored was that of an individual's perception of organizational resources related to legally mandated reasonable accommodations. Using hierarchal regression this study found that self-efficacy, job characteristics, and means-efficacy were key predictors of job satisfaction. Means-efficacy was the only one of these that was a predictor of turnover intentions.

Successful Midlife Aging In A Changing Work Environment: A Model Of Midlife Adaptation, Autumn Nichole Carroll

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to construct a model of midlife work adaptation that depicts a basic framework outlining coping processes by which midlife adults use to approach changes identified in the current midlife context that challenge them cognitively, physically, and emotionally.

Moderating Effects Of Tolerance For Ambiguity On Role Ambiguity And Stress: The Impact On Feedback Seeking Behavior, Lorissa Ann Grant

Theses Digitization Project

This thesis examined factors related to employee (particularly new employee) stress. In particular it looked at stress caused by role ambiguity. It looked at the moderating effect of tolerance for ambiguity on the relationship between role ambiguity and stress. It also examined the indirect effect of feedback seeking behavior to gain desired role clarity as an intervening variable on stress level.

The Effects Of Verbal Recognition On Work Performance And Intrinsic Motivation: Using Behavior Modification Techniques, Rodney Eric Chalmers

Theses Digitization Project

The effect of both public and private verbal recognition on intrinsic motivation and sales performance in fourteen restaurant waitstaff was evaluated using organizational behavior modification techniques. The hypothesis that public recognition would be more effective than private recognition in increasing intrinsic motivation and sales was not supported.

Influences Of Supervisor And Peer Support On Transfer Of Training, Suzanne Michelle Anderson

Theses Digitization Project

Student employees (N=86) at a major research institution participated in a new hire orientation training and then responded to questionnaires measuring ten transfer behaviors and eight work environment constructs measuring support, frequency of contact, cohesion, and general means efficacy. Supervisor ratings of trainee performance were used to measure transfer behaviors.

An Exploratory Cross-Cultural Investigation Of The Organisational Strategies Employed To Prevent And Ameliorate Workplace Bullying In University Settings, Dragana Krestelica

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Workplaces abound in conflict. Individuals within organisations are therefore vulnerable to a wide range of intimidating interactional tactics. These tactics can have an extremely negative impact upon individual workers and upon subsequent organisational performance. Consequentially, the diverse forms of organisational social harassment, and specifically bullying, place a large financial burden upon both organisations and nations. Therefore, the identification of strategies used to prevent and ameliorate workplace bullying and an examination that highlights their comparative success or failure is of great importance for all employers, employees and government. This study focuses upon those strategies used to prevent and ameliorate such workplace …