Industrial and Organizational Psychology Commons^™

Dynamic Job Satisfaction Shifts: Implications For Manager Behavior And Crossover To Employees, David Ellis Caughlin

Dissertations and Theses

In this dissertation, I investigated job satisfaction from a dynamic perspective. Specifically, I integrated the momentum model of job satisfaction with the affective shift model and crossover theory in an effort to move beyond traditional, static conceptions of job satisfaction and other constructs. Recent research and theoretical development has focused on the meaning of job satisfaction change for workers and how such change impacts their decisions to leave an organization. To extend this line of inquiry, I posited hypotheses pertaining to: (a) job satisfaction change with respect to positive work behavior (i.e., organizational citizenship behavior, family-supportive supervisor behavior); (b) the …

Ethnicity, Qualifications, And Peer Influence: Relative Effects In A Simulated Hiring Decision, Victoria Lynn Kerns

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Past research has examined the effects observed when résumés varying only in a name or a particular characteristic that is often stereotyped against receive differential feedback (see, for example, Derous et al., 2009). The current study sought to build on that design, adding the influence of peers as a possible way to reduce this discrimination in hiring.

Participants viewed two résumés varying in qualifications, one belonging to a seemingly Anglo candidate and one belonging to a seemingly Arab candidate. They chose a candidate for the position in the presence of peer influence which favored one candidate over another, or peer …

Human Factors In High-Altitude Mountaineering, Christopher D. Wickens, John W. Keller, Christopher Shaw

Journal of Human Performance in Extreme Environments

We describe the human performance and cognitive challenges of high altitude mountaineering. The physical (environmental) and internal (health) stresses are first described, followed by the motivational factors that lead people to climb. The statistics of mountaineering accidents in the Himalayas and Alaska are then described. We then present a detailed discussion of the role of decision-making biases in mountaineering mishaps. We conclude by discussing interpersonal factors, adaptation, and training issues.

Enhancing Psychology Majors’ Meta-Cognitive Understanding Of Desirable Workplace Skills Using A Short Discussion-Based In-Class Activity, Alena S. Gordienko

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

The skills psychology students possess that employers look for in job applicants include: reliability, integrity, work ethic, communication, technology, critical thinking, teamwork, and professionalism (Rodgers, 2012). I conducted a study to determine whether participating in a brief classroom activity would improve students’ ability to effectively describe their skills. Students were asked to write a cover letter before and after the activity. The activity included a discussion of four skills and student reflection on their experiences that demonstrated these skills. I hypothesized that overall letter-writing would improve, that students’ self-reported levels of preparedness to find a job would improve, that students …

A Review Of Court Cases Involving Discrimination In Physical Ability Testing: 1992-2015, Casey L. Biggs

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Organizations that employ physically demanding jobs want to ensure their selection procedures distinguish qualified applicants from unqualified applicants. However, such selection tools typically result in adverse impact against various protected groups and often lead to litigation. Various factors influence the court’s decision to rule in favor of the plaintiff or the defendant. The purpose of the present study is to identify those factors. The ADA (1990) created strict guidelines for plaintiffs and defendants to follow to be credible in a discrimination case. This study will specifically determine the impact of the ADA guidelines and three additional factors that influence court …

Using Critical Incidents: The Development Of A Behaviorally Based Training Program For Supervisor Citizenship Behavior And Feedback Skills, Jody J. Lecheler

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

It has been argued (Greer, 2013) that supervisors are a critical component in organizational effectiveness. Supervisors are required to hold many roles within the organization (Evans, 1965). Specifically, employees often see supervisors as representatives of the organization, while the organization depends on supervisors to maintain production (Greer, 2013). Many supervisors also fill a variety of other organizational roles such as mentor, trainer, motivator, disciplinarian, evaluator, and leader (Evans, 1965). For these reasons, effective supervisors are crucial to organizational success. The present study developed a behaviorally based training program for supervisors for a poultry processing organization. The training program content included …

Examining Quality Of Hire As A Function Of Person-Organization And Person-Job Fit At "Pharmco", Leah L. Palmer

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

In response to the millennial job-hopping fad and increasingly low retention rates organizations are facing, it is more important than ever that the best-fit candidate is chosen for the position and the organization. There are two common ways fit is typically defined: person-organization (P-O) fit is the congruence between an employee and the characteristics of a company; person-job (P-J) fit is the match between an employee’s knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) and the requirements of the job in the organization (Edwards, 1991; Kristof, 1996). A large pharmaceutical company developed a quality of new hire criterion measure as a function of …

Organizational Use Of Social Networking In Employment Actions, Cameron R. Lile

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study examined federal court cases related to the use of social media websites (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, LinkedIn) in various employment practices (e.g., selection, promotion, employee monitoring, layoffs). Court cases were identified using various online databases in an attempt to create an exhaustive list of cases to be used to better understand the role that social media has played in organizational settings and the legal implications of its use. The results of this study show that there were a significant number of cases involving termination and Facebook, and organizations prevailed in court significantly more than the defendant did. The …

Work-Life Balance, Identity Salience And Break Taking Behaviors In Indian Expatriates, Pooja Bangalore Vijayakumar

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This study focuses on the challenges faced by Indian expatriates working in the IT industry in the USA. It specifically examines participants’ work-nonwork role relationship quality, identity salience, and break taking behaviors. The sample for this study consisted of 415 Indian expatriates working in the IT industry. A computational tool called PROCESS was used to test the path analysis-based moderation and mediation analyses and their integrated form of conditional process models to determine whether work-nonwork role relationship quality mediates the relationship between work-related stressor and wellbeing. The relationships among work-related stressors, work-nonwork role relationship quality, and wellbeing were examined, while …

Antecedent Conditions Of Shared Leadership: An Examination Of Team Personality Composition, Shared Leadership, And Team Effectiveness, Nicole Wild

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The present study examined the antecedent conditions necessary for shared leadership to develop in teams and enhance team effectiveness. An overview of the research on traditional leadership, shared leadership, and team personality composition examined the evidence in support of using team agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness to experience to predict shared leadership in teams. The study sample consisted of manufacturing employees at an appliance manufacturing plant. It was proposed that team agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness to experience would significantly predict shared empowering leadership in teams, which subsequently would predict team effectiveness. Results of multiple regression revealed no significant relationships between team …

Examining The Relationship Between Physical Activity Psychological Well-Being And Stress In A College Population, Hannah K. Wike

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The present study evaluated the relationship between perceived stress and psychological well-being moderated by physical activity in college-age participants. Previous research suggests physical activity relates to lower stress levels (Nguyen‐Michel, Unger, Hamilton, & Spruijt‐Metz, 2006). Additionally, research has found physical activity is connected with overall well-being and lower levels of mental health issues. The results from an online survey collection (n=291) suggest that physical activity, at least as operationalized in the study, does not moderate the relationship between perceived stress and psychological well-being. However, perceived stress does have a significant relationship with psychological well-being. Also, the motive for physical activity, …

The Effects Of Electronic Response Systems On Student Learning, James D. Morrison

Masters Theses

One of the most technologically advanced methods of implementing active student responding is the electronic response system (Judson & Sawada, 2002). This technology is known under several names including audience response system, classroom response system, and colloquially as clickers (Smith, Shon, & Santiago, 2011). To accurately assess the impact of clickers on learning performance and classroom achievement, more quantitative analysis and systematic replication of studies was needed (Kay & LeSage, 2009). This study examined the effects of ASR questions on exam performance in two sections of an organizational psychology class for majors and non-majors. A social validity questionnaire was also …

Effect Of The Physical Environment On Teacher Satisfaction With Indoor Environmental Quality In Early Learning Schools, Stuart Shell

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

While the quantity and quality of teacher-child interactions plays a key role in emotional and cognitive development for children, there is scant evidence regarding the contribution of physical environment to child outcomes. This study seeks to understand better the relative importance of variables within the physical environment for occupants. The research design targets teachers’ satisfaction with the physical environment as the outcome variable, based on the assumption that teachers who are more satisfied with their classroom provide higher-quality interactions with children. Teachers from two early learning schools with a total of 31 classrooms completed a written survey that asked about …

Perceived Subordinate Support (Psubs): Identifying Its Unique Impact On Positive Employee Outcomes, Stephen Elkourie

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The present study is a replication and extension of research assessing the positive relationship between Perceived Subordinate Support (PSubS) and positive employee behaviors. We relate those relationships to those of Perceived Organizational Support (POS) and Perceived Supervisor Support (PSS). We also addresses whether PSubS is a unique construct from POS and PSS. We also explored the possibility of a Generalized Perception of Support (GPS) underlying all three support constructs using the bifactor model. Results provide support for a unique PSubS construct, while the existence of an underlying GPS was not supported. The research serves as further construct validation to the …

The Impact Of Team Social Role Performance On Team Cohesion And Team Performance, Graham H. Lowman

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This study examined the relationships between team social role performance, team cohesion, and team performance. The team social roles examined were those identified by Mumford, Campion, and Morgeson (2006): Cooperator, Communicator, and Calibrator. The Group Environmental Questionnaire (GEQ) developed by Carron, Widmeyer, and Brawley (1985) provided the measure of team cohesion on the individual and group levels. Performance reports from the GLO-BUS business simulation game provided team performance scores. Results indicated that mean team social role performance and the standard deviation of team social role performance are significantly correlated and predictive of team cohesion. In addition, results indicated a non-significant …

Is The Classroom Better? An Introspective Look At E-Learning And Classroom From A Ged Standpoint, Taryn C. Schrader

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The present study examined whether participants assigned to a well-executed e-learning program would show greater improvement in mean test scores pre-post instructional intervention compared to those learning through the traditional classroom method. In the last ten years, many organizations have created e-learning programs with the hopes of enhancing or replacing traditional instructor-led classes (Jones, 2013). However, 41% of American Society of Training and Development’s respondents admitted their organization does not possess metrics to evaluate e-learning’s usefulness (Miller, 2012). One of the major challenges in incorporating and implementing e-learning programs is the ability to measure its use and effectiveness (Miller, 2012). …

The Moderating Influence Of Personality On Combat Veterans Transitioning Into Civilian College Life, Jason L. Davis

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Combat veterans returning to a civilian lifestyle are assisted in many ways during their transition. These services are not only demonstrations of patriotic support, but are typically intended to aid veterans with their transition. The transition for combat veterans is, in many ways, completely different from what most of us will ever experience. Several factors may influence the overall success of this transition for veterans. This study examined the relationship between veterans’ combat experiences and their transition into civilian college life. The constructs of transition were defined by grade point average (GPA) and current well-being. The influence of certain personality …

Distinguishing Originality From Creativity In Adhd: An Assessment Of Creative Personality, Self-Perception, And Cognitive Style Among Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Adults, Jean-Pierre J. Issa

Creative Studies Graduate Student Master's Theses

Debates over whether Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) relates to high levels of creativity have been hampered by a lack of rigor when defining creativity. The purpose of the present study was to go beyond the rhetoric by empirically investigating creative personality, creative self-perception, and cognitive style among 49 ADHD adults. Comparative analysis to studies of non-ADHD samples revealed distinctive tendencies: A mean group score of 115.71 (SD=18.02) on the Kirton Adaption-Innovation Inventory (KAI) indicated preferences for originality, nonconformity, paradigm-breaking, and low efficiency that was over one standard deviation higher than average non-ADHD population scores. Combined inattentive/hyperactiveimpulsive subtypes (n …

Guidelines And Ethical Considerations For Assessment Center Operations, Deborah E. Rupp, Brian J Hoffman, David Bischof, William Byham, Lynn Collins, Alyssa Gibbons, Shinichi Hirose, Martin Kleinmann, Jeffrey D. Kudisch, Martin Lanik, Duncan J. R. Jackson, Myungjoon Kim, Filip Lievens, Deon Meiring, Klaus G. Melchers, Vina G. Pendit, Dan J. Putka, Nigel Povah, Doug Reynolds, Sandra Schlebusch

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

This document’s intended purpose is to provide professional guidelines and ethical considerations for users of the assessment center method. These guidelines are designed to cover both existing and future applications. The title assessment center is restricted to those methods that follow these guidelines.

The Effects Of Incentive Pay Systems With Tiered Goals On Performance, Daniel B. Sundberg

Dissertations

This study examined the relative effects of three incentive pay systems, piece-rate pay, threshold piece-rate pay, and bonus pay, on performance when individuals were given the same five-tiered performance goals. A fourth system, wage pay, served as a control. The task was a computerized simulation of a medical data entry job and the primary dependent variable was the number of correctly completed patient records. Sixty-six college students were randomly assigned to one of the four pay conditions, and attended one 60-minute covariate session and five 60-minute experimental sessions. Participants in the wage pay condition earned $6.50 per session; those in …