Understanding Research in OB

1. Understanding Research in OB OS 386 August 29, 2002 Fisher

2. Agenda • Review basic research terminology and concepts • Goal is to become an informed consumer of organizational research • Will be using OB research in your paper • Read and discuss research summaries

3. Correction!!! • Team research report is due on Monday, December 9 • Please correct your syllabus

4. What is a theory? • We will study many theories this semester • A theory is not absolute truth • Set of propositions about how concepts are related • Purpose is to try and understand various phenomena • Theories should be • Clear and simple • Logically consistent

5. Graphic Presentation of Feedback Intervention Theory (FIT) (Kluger & DiNisi, 1996)

6. Textual Presentation of FIT Proposition l: FI effects on performance are attenuated by cues that direct attention to meta-task processes. Proposition 2: FI effects on performance are augmented by (a) cues that direct attention to task-motivation processes and (b) cues that direct attention to task-learning processes coupled with informa- tion regarding erroneous hypotheses. Proposition 3: In the absence of learning cues, the fewer cognitive resources needed for task performance, the more positive is the effect of FIs on performance. Proposition 4: Goal-setting interventions should augment the effect of F1 on performance. Proposition 5: FI cues that match salient self goals of a given per- sonality type direct attention to meta-task processes and therefore debilitate performance.

7. All good theories must be tested • Form hypotheses • Define and measure constructs • Collect and analyze data • Test hypotheses • Refine theory as needed

8. Constructs in OB • Challenge -- it can be difficult to clearly define and measure the constructs. • Leadership • Motivation • Personality • Critical when you are reading studies to examine the definitions of the constructs.

9. Milgram authority experiments • Theory was that people would behave in ways inconsistent with their beliefs if instructed to do so by an authority figure • Subjects were asked to administer electric shocks to a confederate • 65% administered “dangerous” levels of shock when instructed to do so

10. Research Ethics • Basic idea – cause no harm to the subjects • Freedom to participate • Informed consent • Protecting privacy • University Institutional Review Board (IRB) intended to ensure compliance with ethical guidelines

11. Your experience… • Have you ever participated in a research study? • What was it like?

12. Basic research methods • Lab experiments • Highly controlled • Less generalizable • Can it happen? • Field studies • Less control • More generalizable • Does it happen?

13. Who participated in the study? • Identifying study participants is called sampling • In lab and field, sampling is critical • Size of sample • Appropriateness of sample

14. Research SummaryDiscussion Questions • What are the key constructs? • What method was used to collect data? • Does that seem like a good way to collect data in this situation? • What were the conclusions? • Do you think the conclusions will generalize to other settings?

15. For next class: • Topic: Introduction to Individuals • What kinds of individual attributes and behaviors are we studying? • Read Chapter 2, pages 30-39 • Will distribute team assignments • Start thinking about research topics