Research Concerns
- Random Sampling
Random sampling means that research participants have been randomly chosen from
the population of interest
- In experiments, randomization means randomly assigning subjects to treatment/control
conditions
- Random sampling lowers the threats to internal validity
Hawthorne Effect
- Research subjects can react to being studied and change their behaviour!
- Hawthorne Effect refers to a favourable response of subjects in an experiment to a factor
other than the IV or treatment
- This ‘other factor’ is psychological in nature such as subjects’ reactions to special
attention.
Dispositional Approach
The Situational Approach
Implications
- Some personality characteristics are useful in certain organizational situations
- There is no one best personality
- The advantages of employee diversity
- The importance of fit- putting the right person in the right job, group, or organization
The Five-Factor Model of Personality
Five basic but general dimensions that describe personality
Locus of Control
- A set of beliefs about whether one’s behaviour is controlled mainly by internal or external
factors
- Internals believe that the opportunity to control their own behaviour resides within
themselves
- Externals believe that external forces determine their behaviour
Locus of Control: Research
Who do you think is more satisfied: Internals or externals?
- Internals are more satisfied with their jobs, earn more money, and achieve higher
organizational positions
Self-Monitoring
- The extent to which people observe and regulate how they appear and behave in social
settings and relationships.
- High self-minors:
-
Take great care to observe and control
High self monitors are:
- More involved in their jobs, perform better, and are more likely to emerge as leaders
Self-Esteem
- The degree to which a person has a positive self evaluation
- People with high self esteem have favourable self images
- People with low self esteem have unfavourable self images