Industrial and Organizational Psychology Commons^™

Methods Of Detecting Differential Item Functioning: A Comparison Of Confirmatory Factor Analysis Methods, Jenny Chia Yi Kuang

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The present Monte Carlo study compared four confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) methods for detecting differential item functioning (DIF). The four methods were the noniterative and iterative mean and covariance structure analysis (MACS) methods, the modification index (MI) method, and the modification index-divided sample (MI-divided) method. Reference and focal groups responded to 12 items with 3 of the 12 items designed to exhibit DIF. Sample sizes of 250 and 500 were examined. In addition, three types of DIF were examined: DIF on loadings, DIF on thresholds, and DIF on both loadings and thresholds. Results indicated that for sample size 250, all …

Making Exit Interviews Useful To A Correctional Agency, Marian Layman, Laura Farris, Roni Reiter-Palmon, Erin Gallagher, Shawna Williams

Psychology Faculty Publications

Exit interviews serve as a tool to uncover departmental characteristics and areas in which departmental change should occur,¹ and they are effective in gathering information from departing employees regarding impressions and experiences in their department.² Ultimately, the goal of using exit interview questionnaires is to obtain objective information, increase efficiency of the interview process and evaluate aspects of the department through data analysis.³

The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (DCS) contracted with the Center for Applied Psychological Services (CAPS) at the University of Nebraska at Omaha to evaluate the reasons for personnel voluntarily leaving their jobs. This …

Performance In Non-Face-To-Face Collaborative Information Environments, Brooke Schaab, J. Douglas Dressel, Mark A. Sabol, Andrea L. Lassiter

Psychology Department Publications

Using technology to obtain and process information requires training not only in human-computer interaction but also in human-human-computer (collaborative) interaction. Warfighters must not only develop their own situational awareness (SA), they must understand each others’ SA (Pew, 1995). This common ground is what each collaboration participant assumes about the others to ensure effective interactions (Ross, 2003; Wellons, 1993). Communication is key. Collaborators must coordinate and share information. Collaboration influences military operations at all levels. Technical interoperability is not enough to produce the synchronization required.

Influence Of Teamwork Aptitude And Personal Characteristics Of Team Members On Team Effectiveness: How Should We Form Effective Teams?, Shinko Kimura

Theses Digitization Project

This study examines the factors that are important for team success by exploring the best possible criteria for selecting members for teamwork. Two models of team composition were proposed, productivty and synergy. The findings are discussed for their implications for team satisfaction and productivity.

Organizational Policies, Organizational Social Support, And Work-Family Conflict: The Mediating Role Of Motivation Orientation, Christie Lynn Crimaldi

Theses Digitization Project

The current study examines the relationship between organizational support and work-family/family-work conflict. This study hopes to add to the literature by looking at individual differences as a possible mediator in the relationship between various sources of support and conflict between work and family.

Internal Psychological States In A Diverse Work Environment, Vincent Valdez Cordero

Theses Digitization Project

The study examined the internal states (self-esteem and ethnic identity) that may affect individuals in a diverse work environment and lead to conflict. In particular it was expected that ethnic identity and self-esteem would mediate the relationship between diversity and conflict. Participants from a wide variety of organizations in Southern California completed an online survey. Statistical analyses revealed that self-esteem and ethnic identity did not mediate the relationship between diversity and conflict. However, many of the variables were significantly related to each other. Implications of the findings are discussed.

Coworker Justice Perceptions Toward Workplace Accommodations And What Justice Criteria Are Used To Make These Justice Perceptions, Audrey Marie Hunzeker

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study is to examine if in the accommodation situation, coworkers are likely to use the need rule when determining whether an accommodation is warranted or not, and if they do, if using the need rule is likely to result in more positive justice judgments.

The Impact Of Need For Cognition On Primacy And Regency Effects In The Employment Interview, Amy Marie Lawton

Theses Digitization Project

The order of interview questions during the interview may influence candidate ratings, giving an unfair advantage to some candidates. This study was done to test the effect of the interviewer's need for cogniton, the desire to use cognitive energy, on primacy and recency effects during the employment interview. A transcript of competency-based behavior description interivew questions was given to nearly 300 participants. Evidence was found for recency effects only, and no significant differences were found that could be attributed to the interviewer's need for cognition.

Cross Cultural Comparison Between The United States And Japan: Executive Traits, Yoshimi Ishibashi

Theses Digitization Project

This study examined comparisons of gender stereotypes of executives in two cultures, American and Japanese. Undergraduate students in Japan and the U.S. estimated the extent to which executives in general, male and female exectuives possessed person-oriented and task-oriented leadership traits.

Millennial Pre-Camp Staff Training: Incorporating Generational Knowledge, Learning Strategies And Compliance Gaining Techniques, Dana Robin Magilen

Theses Digitization Project

A new generation, Millennial Generation, is currently staffing summer camp programs. Camp directors need to be aware of the differences in learning styles this generation prefers. The Millennial generation is the first to grow up with the instant accessibility of the Internet. This project was created based on suggestions from Camp Directors and ideas that have been developed from the study of this generation. A pre-camp video game training script has been created and tailored to the Millennial camp staff in order to encourage Millennials to learn and use the information needed to take proper care of campers.

Transformational Leadership And Group Outcomes: The Mediating Effects Of Social Identification And Empowerment, Kevin Michael Karlak

Theses Digitization Project

Collective efficacy, group helping behaviors, and group cohesion are group outcomes that have demonstrated pervasive effects on group performance. These group outcomes are important because of the strong relationships that have been established among these variables. Transformational leadership has shown to greatly foster these outcomes. The purpose of this thesis was to investigate the relationship between transformational leadership styles and organizational group outcomes in the workplace.

The Influence Of Work And Nonwork-Related Factors On Bridge Employment Decisions, Chanjira Pengcharoen

Theses Digitization Project

The influence of demographic factors, work schedule flexibility, job satisfaction, job involvement, job seeking self-efficacy, certainty of retirement plans, familial and marital satisfaction, and attitude toward retirement on older workers' decision to fully retire, continue career employment, or participate in bridge employment was examined in this study.

Visual Search Performance In A Dynamic Environment With 3d Auditory Cues, John Paul Mcintire

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Previous research on aurally-aided visual search has repeatedly shown a significant reduction in response times when displaying 3D auditory cues. However, the vast majority of this research has only examined searches for static (non-moving) targets in static visual environments. In the present study, visual search performance in both static and dynamic (moving) visual environments is examined with and without virtual 3D auditory cues. In both static and dynamic environments, and for all observers, visual search times were significantly reduced when auditory spatial cues were displayed. Auditory cues provided the largest benefits when the target initially appeared at farther eccentricities and …

Discrimination Across The Sectors: A Comparison Of Discrimination Trends In Private And Public Organizations, Megan K. Leasher

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Differences and similarities between public and private sector organizations have been hypothesized and researched for several decades (Murray, 1975). This study investigated the differences in claims of employment discrimination reported for employees within the private and public sectors. A longitudinal database of statewide discrimination claims was analyzed to determine if differences in employment discrimination patterns or levels exist between the sectors. Theoretical and practical implications are presented in addition to propositions for future research.

Parameters Affecting Mental Workload And The Number Of Simulated Ucavs That Can Be Effectively Supervised, Bryan A. Calkin

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

The present study investigated performance and mental workload when an operator supervises multiple UCAVs. This study focused on the parameters that affect the operator's performance during a simulated UCAV suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD) mission, which is expected to be the primary function of the UCAV. All three manipulated factors, including the number of vehicles to be supervised, vehicle airspeed, and difficulty level of attacks (targets engaged by either a single vehicle or multiple vehicles), affected both performance and subjective mental workload measures. A performance mental workload redline was defined as the point at which accomplishment scores no longer …

Effect Of Variable Feedback Delay On Visual Target-Acquisition Performance, Julio Christian Mateo

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Traditionally, private communication channels with stable characteristics have been used in teleoperation situations. However, recently there have been a few attempts at using public communication channels such as the Internet. In spite of their convenience, very little is known about the effect of the variable delays inherent in this type of channel on motor performance. In this thesis, we provide empirical data on the impact of variable feedback delays on a 3D visual target-acquisition task performed in a virtual environment. Target size, distance between targets, mean feedback delay, and feedback-delay variability were manipulated and the number of errors and movement …

The Relationship Between Burnout And Engagement: A Confirmatory Factor Analysis, Gene Michael Alarcon

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Researchers have purported that burnout and engagement measure the same three latent constructs, energy, identification, and efficacy at work, but few have actually researched the theory (Maslach & Leiter, 1997; Schaufeli & Bakker, 2004). Burnout has been consistently related to workplace demands such as emotional labor (Brotheridge & Grandey, 2002; Brotheridge & Lee, 2002). The current study investigated whether burnout and engagement are comprised of energy, identification, and efficacy in a sample with high demands for emotional labor. A confirmatory factor analysis suggested that burnout and engagement might in fact be separate second order latent constructs comprised of only two …

Cognitive Ability, Job Knowledge, And Stereotype Threat: When Does Adverse Impact Result?, Mark V. Palumbo

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

This research compared the efficacy of a cognitive ability test and two types of job knowledge tests for predicting job performance. Further, I examined job knowledge as a mechanism through which cognitive ability affects performance. Finally, I examined both types of tests relative to specific propositions from stereotype threat theory. Specifically, I examined the propositions that perceptions of the tests may cause mean score differences between Blacks and Whites and compared the effects of test perceptions relative to both test types. Results demonstrated that job knowledge accounted for significantly more variance in task performance than cognitive ability. Furthermore, job knowledge …

The Effects Of Representational Format And Discourse Principles On The Comprehension And Production Of Temporal Order, Louise J. Rasmussen

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

In the present study I examined the role physical representations play in supporting distributed planning and scheduling. Specifically, I investigated the implications of different representational formats for the production of discourse as well as the later comprehension of text relating to temporal order. In the first part of the study, pairs of participants created schedules for constructing a house with the aid of either a numeric, list format, or a graphical, Gantt chart format. Participants completed the task in a non-collocated fashion, without shared visual access. In the second part of the study, after completing their schedule, the same participants …

Work-Nonwork Goal Conflict: A Self-Regulatory Expansion Of Work Life Conflict, John Michael Mckee

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Current conceptualizations of work-life conflict (WLC) fail to account for additional life domains beyond that already measured for by traditional work-family conflict (WFC) measures. When conceptualized from a self-regulatory perspective, WFC can be thought of as a person's work goals conflicting with his or her family goals. This goal-based conceptualization of WLC was used within the current study in order to explore the relationship between work-nonwork goal conflict and worker well-being. Participants were guided through an on-line personal project analysis, in which they elicited goals within work and nonwork domains and then provided ratings of conflict between all work and …

Fatigue's Influence On Workload, Situation Awareness, And Performance In A Military Simulation Of Combat, Carlotta M. Boone

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Military operations routinely require military personnel to consistently perform their duties over several hours or days. Tasks that require prolonged work can lead to mental fatigue and decreased performance. The transactional model proposes that individuals cope with changes in the environment and maintain performance. This ability to cope is determined by factors of the environment and the individual's personality. One environmental factor that can influence coping is extended task performance. This study examined the effect of extended task performance and its interaction with task difficulty. Participants interacted with the military simulation game Command and Conquer: Generals™ for three hours. They …

Correlation Of Numerical Ability And Quality Technician Best Performers In Manufacturing Quality Control Applications, Charles Wesley Shelton

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The occupation of Quality Technician has many duties requiring numerical operations. Business and industry place considerable emphasis on numerical ability when evaluating the performance of a Quality Technician. In this study, the numerical ability and performance classification of Quality Technicians were analyzed using a correlation analysis. lll A single case study was used to investigate this relationship. A modified Delphi Method was used to determine characteristics of a Quality Technician. Quality Technicians were evaluated by their direct supervisor and completed a standardized numerical ability test. The evaluations by the supervisor were used to classify each technician based on their performance. …

Patient Handling Safety For Nursing Staff, Don Nielsen

Dissertations

The effectiveness of video scoring and feedback about the scoring of the components of safe patient transfers was observed among eight nursing staff members in a skilled nursing department within an acute care hospital.

An ABCA (and sometimes ABCDA), multiple baseline across individuals design was utilized in the study. The dependent variable under investigation was the percentage of safe lifting components. Following baseline measures, nursing staff participated in an information phase during which they reviewed and discussed components of safe patient transfers. A video scoring phase was introduced, during which, participants viewed and scored a model video of a patienttransfer. …

A Within-Person Perspective On Feedback Seeking About Task Performance, Frederik Anseel, Filip Rene O Lievens

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

In organisations, feedback about multiple performance dimensions is often available. Consequently, employees have to decide on which performance dimensions they will be seeking feedback. In a lab experiment 126 students indicated on which performance dimensions they wanted to receive feedback after completing a computerized in-basket task. Results showed that participants especially sought feedback about their best and most important performance dimensions. Individuals with a high learning goal orientation sought more feedback about their least important performance dimensions as compared to individuals with a low learning goal orientation. In general, results indicated that previous findings obtained in between-person studies of feedback …

Reverse Decision Making And Goal Attainment A Proof Of Concept As A New Approach To The Decision Making Process Under Uncertainty, Shitalkumar S. Sabne

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Decision making occurs when one must choose among alternatives. However, in uncertain environments where problems are complex and decision makers lack complete knowledge of the situation as well as decision alternatives, it's not possible for them to select an optimal decision outcome by 'Traditional Decision Approaches'. At present Reverse Decision Making is the central, although new and unproved, approach of Old Dominion University's Engineering Management and Systems Engineering research on decision making process for uncertain and complex situations. Even though research in decision making spans over one hundred years, there are still important problems which remain to be addressed.

There …

Psychometric Controversy Involving Job Performance Ratings, Anne Scaduto

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Job performance ratings by supervisors and peers are very often the procedure for performance appraisal. The reliability of performance ratings is an important issue, because performance appraisal serves several purposes in the context of human resource management. Unfortunately, there are performance rating biases connected with raters, ratees, the interaction of raters and ratees, and situational and organizational characteristics. Interrater correlations are frequently interpreted as estimates of the reliability of performance ratings, and are also used to correct the correlations between ratings and other measures for attenuation. Some researchers (Murphy & DeShon, 2000a; 2000b) argue that interrater correlations are not reliability …

Video-Based Versus Written Situational Judgment Tests: A Comparison In Terms Of Predictive Validity, Filip Lievens, Paul R. Sackett

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

In this study, the authors examined whether video-based situational judgment tests (SJTs) have higher predictive validity than written SJTs (keeping verbal content constant). The samples consisted of 1, 159 students who completed a video-based version of an SIT and 1,750 students who completed the same SIT in a written format. The study was conducted in a high stakes testing context. The video-based version of an interpersonally oriented SJT had a lower correlation with cognitive ability than did the written version. It also had higher predictive and incremental validity for predicting interpersonally oriented criteria than did the written version. In this …

Relationships, Layoffs, And Organizational Resilience: Airline Industry Responses To September 11, Jody H. Gittell, Kim Cameron, Sandy Lim, Victor Rivas

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, affected the U.S. airline industry more than almost any other industry. Certain airlines emerged successful and demonstrated remarkable resilience while others languished. This investigation identifies reasons why some airline companies recovered successfully after the attacks while others struggled. Evidence is provided that layoffs after the crisis, although intended to foster recovery, instead inhibited recovery throughout the 4 years after the crisis. But, layoffs after the crisis were strongly correlated with lack of financial reserves and lack of a viable business model prior to the crisis. Digging deeper, the authors find that having a …

Development Of An O*Net Web-Based Job Analysis And Its Implementation In The U. S. Navy: Lessons Learned, Roni Reiter-Palmon, Skillsnet, Infousa, Oriental Trading Co.

Psychology Faculty Publications

Job analysis is described as the building block of most Human Resource (HR) functions. In recent years, many HR functions have been automated or adapted to computer applications; however, the use of computers for job analysis is lagging. The purpose of this paper is to describe a web-based job analysis process that is based on O*NET. The web-based job analysis process is more flexible and less resource intensive than traditional job analysis methods. The paper also will describe the application of the web-based job analysis process in the U.S. Navy and discuss strengths and limitations of this system.

Occupationally-Specific Skills: Using Skills To Define And Understand Jobs And Their Requirements, Roni Reiter-Palmon, Marcy Young, Skillsnet, Joseph James

Psychology Faculty Publications

Recent work in Human Resources (HR) has highlighted the importance of understanding and identifying occupationally-specific skills. The purpose of this article is to describe the need to identify occupationally-specific skills and outline a methodology used to create occupationally-specific skills. Evidence of the validity of the methodology used is presented. The article concludes by identifying possible uses for occupationally-specific skills and providing information about actual implementation and use of systems based on occupationally-specific skills.