Factors associated with novice graduate student researchers’ engagement with primary literature

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah M. Urquhart ◽  
Michelle A. Maher ◽  
David F. Feldon ◽  
Joanna Gilmore
Keyword(s):  
Graduate Student ◽  
Graduate Training ◽  
Skill Development ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Research Skill ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
Sequential Explanatory Mixed Method ◽  
Self Report Data

Purpose Using the threshold concepts framework, this paper aims to explore how differences in the ability to meaningfully apply relevant literature to one’s research are reflected in descriptions of graduate training undertaken in an academic year. Design/methodology/approach This paper used a sequential-explanatory mixed method design. Phase I analysis used quantitative performance data to differentiate research skill threshold crossers from non-crossers. Phase II analysis used qualitative interview data to identify common and differentiating themes across and between the two groups. Findings Participants identified coursework, research activities and teaching assignments as primary research skill development sites. However, only the patterns of mentorship and engagement with literature within the context of supervised research activities consistently differentiated threshold crossers from non-crossers. All non-crossers reported having full autonomy in their research endeavors, whereas all crossers articulated reliance on supervising mentor guidance. Similarly, most non-crossers did not frame research as incremental contributions to existing literature, while most crossers did. Research limitations/implications The study sample size is small (n = 14), and the study is exploratory in nature. Practical implications The importance of exploring the factors that actually indicate and lead to research skill development is highlighted. Originality/value Few studies address graduate student research skill development, although this skill development is a core goal of many graduate programs. This study does so, using performance rather than self-report data.

Exploring the empirical evidence of social desirability bias (SDB) in sport consumer research

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Youngho Park ◽  
Dae Hee Kwak
Keyword(s):  
Social Desirability ◽  
Sport Management ◽  
Marketing Research ◽  
Sport Marketing ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Social Desirability Bias ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Report Data ◽  
Self Report Data ◽  
And Control

PurposeThe current study aims to provide a systematic approach to detecting and identifying social desirability bias (SDB) in survey data using controversial sponsorship as a research context.Design/methodology/approachWe used an experimental approach to manipulate sponsorship situations (e.g. Beer sponsor vs Sports drink sponsor) that could potentially motivate respondents to under-report their perceptions toward the sponsor. By employing both procedural and statistical approaches, our evidence shows that responses toward the controversial sponsor were in fact contaminated by SDB.FindingsThe findings of the study provide methodological and practical implications for how sport marketing scholars and practitioners can identify, detect and control SDB in self-report data.Originality/valueWe argue that some survey research in sport marketing may be prone to SDB, but SDB has not received sufficient attention in sport marketing research. We emphasize the importance of detecting (and avoiding/controlling) SDB in sport management research.

Managers’ intentions to pursue export expansion an entrepreneurial cognition perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos A. Sandoval ◽  
Olaf N. Rank
Keyword(s):  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Medium Size ◽  
Relative Significance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Export Activity ◽  
Export Expansion ◽  
Report Data ◽  
Self Report Data

Purpose Grounded in the Theory of Planned Behavior, the main purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of cognitive factors on the intention of a small and medium size enterprise (SME) manager to pursue the expansion of their firm’s export activities. Design/methodology/approach The authors created a research model and collected empirical data among owners and top managers of 127 Costa Rican SMEs. The data was analyzed using structural equation modeling techniques to reveal the relative significance and strength of the effects of every hypothesized relationship. Findings The results suggest that the perception of benefits and self-efficacy influence managers’ intentions to expand export activity. Managers’ intention to expand export activity, in turn, is associated with the levels of export commitment exhibited by the SMEs. None of the control variables seem to impact managers’ intentions. Research limitations/implications The findings of this study underline that the export development of a SME is to a large extent only possible if the manager’s perception of control over the export achievements is perceived to be high. SME managers need maximize their perceived level of controllability over firm’s export operations and achievements. This study relied on self-report data. Self-reports are the conventional method for assessing constructs regarding beliefs, and motivations of an individual. Its use in entrepreneurship research is proved to be reliable. However, the authors have to acknowledge that using self-report data carries the risk of common methods bias. Practical implications SMEs managers might benefit from strengthening the sense of self-efficacy regarding international business based on the results of this study. Originality/value This study provides empirical evidence suggesting that a manager’s cognitive characteristics play a crucial role in understanding export expansion of a SME. The results encourage future research to incorporate cognitive theoretical frameworks to examine factors determining international entrepreneurial intentions.

Self-regulation failure as a moderator of the pops–work outcomes relationships

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (7) ◽  
pp. 731-745
Author(s):  
Joshua C. Palmer ◽  
Wayne A. Hochwarter ◽  
Shuang (Sara) Ma ◽  
Gerald R. Ferris ◽  
Christian Kiewitz
Keyword(s):  
Administrative Support ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Meaningful Work ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Work Outcomes ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Minimal Impact ◽  
Self Report Data ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Hotel Managers

PurposeDrawing upon cognitive control theory, we examine the effects of self-regulation failure (SRF) on the relationships between perceptions of organizational politics (POPs) and tension, exhaustion, satisfaction, work effort, perceived resource availability and performance/contribution.Design/methodology/approachWe test hypotheses across three unique studies (Study 1: 310 employees from various occupations; Study 2: 124 administrative/support employees; Study 3: 271 Chinese hotel managers) using hierarchical moderated regression analyses.FindingsAcross studies, results suggest that POPs had a minimal impact on work attitudes, behaviors and health-related outcomes when SRF was low. However, employees experiencing high SRF reported adverse consequences in high POPS settings.Research limitations/implicationsThese studies relied on self-report data. However, we implemented design features to mitigate potential concerns and analytic techniques to determine method effects. This paper contributed to the POPs literature by explaining how SRF and POPs interact to impact meaningful work outcomes.Practical implicationsLeaders should receive training to help them identify and address indicators of SRF. Leaders can also implement intervention programs to help calm employees who experience SRF.Social implicationsLeaders should receive training to help them identify and address indicators of SRF. Leaders can also implement programs to help assist employees who demonstrate adverse effects from SRF.Originality/valueThis paper integrates the research on SRF and politics to examine the collective impact these variables have on workers. Our three-study package also addresses the call for more studies to examine how politics operate across cultures.

Organizational powerlessness, dehumanization, and gendered effects of procedural justice

2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 570-585 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris M Bell ◽  
Careen Khoury
Keyword(s):  
Procedural Justice ◽  
Turnover Intention ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Interpersonal Justice ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Human Needs ◽  
Mediated Effects ◽  
Moderated Mediation Model ◽  
Self Report Data

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to test whether procedural justice effects on organizational powerlessness and dehumanization are stronger for women than men and, consequently, mediated effects on turnover intention are conditional upon gender. Design/methodology/approach – The authors recruited to a two-wave survey of workplace attitudes with flyers distributed at downtown subway exits. The authors controlled for and tested alternative models for distributive and interpersonal justice. Findings – Gender moderated procedural justice effects on both mediators. The moderated mediation model held only for organizational dehumanization, even controlling for powerlessness. Models for distributive and interpersonal justice were not significant. Research limitations/implications – The authors used cross-sectional, self-report data but separated predictor and criterion variables in two surveys to counteract common method bias. Nevertheless, causal inferences are limited. Practical implications – To retain personnel, managers, and organizations should be aware of the different needs of their employees and corresponding effects of justice. Likewise, women should be diligent in assessing justice and their response to being treated fairly. Social implications – The model is not predicated on an innate quality of gender but on endemic inequities in society. Procedural justice is associated with basic human needs, and effects that are conditional on gender may be socially constructed rather than based in supposed inherent gender differences. Originality/value – Research and lay theories have emphasized that women value procedural justice because of inherently stronger relational needs. The findings suggest gendered effects are due to broader social conditions affecting women’s instrumental and existential needs.

Perceived investment in employee development and taking charge

2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anders Dysvik ◽  
Bård Kuvaas ◽  
Robert Buch
Keyword(s):  
Employee Development ◽  
Work Conditions ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Job Autonomy ◽  
Causal Inferences ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Taking Charge ◽  
Report Data ◽  
Self Report Data

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether the relationship between perceived investment in employee development (PIED) and taking charge is moderated by perceived job autonomy. Design/methodology/approach – Self-report data were obtained from 737 employees. In addition, manager ratings of taking charge were obtained for 154 employees from their respective managers. Hierarchical moderated regression analyses were used to test the hypotheses. Findings – The results revealed a positive relationship between PIED and both self-reported and manager-rated taking charge only for employees who perceived high levels of job autonomy. Research limitations/implications – Given the cross-sectional nature of the data, no causal inferences can be drawn. Practical implications – Managers and organizations may benefit from providing work conditions that facilitate a felt obligation to reciprocate, but at the same time provide sufficient levels of perceived job autonomy to actually do so with respect to increasing the levels of employees’ voluntary and constructive efforts to improve work situations. Social implications – Greater levels of employee taking charge behaviors may offset the decline of businesses and thus aid in reducing long-term unemployment in the society at large. Originality/value – This study contributes to a more complete understanding of how job characteristics may facilitate or inhibit the influence of antecedents for taking charge.

scholarly journals PhD prepared: research skill development across the undergraduate years

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Willison ◽  
Femke Buisman-Pijlman
Keyword(s):  
Academic Staff ◽  
Skill Development ◽  
Research Capacity ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Health Science ◽  
Research Skill ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Degree Programme ◽  
Undergraduate Study ◽  
Development Framework

Purpose Many countries are looking for ways to enable students to engage more effectively with PhD study. This paper aims to consider the effects of explicit discipline-specific research skill development embedded in multiple semesters of an undergraduate degree on PhD preparedness. Design/methodology/approach This case study of one Bachelor of Health Science programme determined the effectiveness of the implementation of a conceptual model, the Researcher Skill Development framework, across the undergraduate degree programme. Data were gathered through interviews of 9 academic staff and 14 students in their fourth year of undergraduate study, which is a research-focused year. Findings All students and academics stated the benefits of the use of the Researcher Skill Development framework in undergraduate study including: deepening metacognition of research processes; assisting students toward acting and thinking like researchers; and the research-capacity building of the school. While all academics and all but one student recommended that the framework be used early in the degree programme, a number of interviewees specified problems with the existing implementation of the framework. Research limitations/implications While the results are not generalisable, the approach is worth studying in other degree programme-wide contexts to determine its broader capacity to enable students to be more research ready for PhD study when compared to current practice. Practical implications When adapted to the context, whole-of-degree research skill development may enable developing countries to have more students and developed countries to better prepared students commencing PhD studies. Originality/value No studies currently provide results for explicit research skill development across a degree programme, or of the benefits of this approach for PhD preparation.

scholarly journals Employee involvement and job satisfaction: a tale of the millennial generation

2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 374-388 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gustavo A. García ◽  
Diego René Gonzales-Miranda ◽  
Oscar Gallo ◽  
Juan Pablo Roman-Calderon
Keyword(s):  
Job Satisfaction ◽  
Employee Involvement ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Report Data ◽  
Self Report Data ◽  
Ordered Probit Models ◽  
General Aspects

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to empirically study the effect of employee involvement in the workplace on job satisfaction for millennial workers in Colombia. Design/methodology/approach Data were obtained from a sample of 2103 millennial employees working in 11 companies of different sectors located in the five main cities of Colombia. Ordered probit models were estimated to study the effect of employee involvement on job satisfaction, in general, and how different forms of participative decision making in the workplace produce different impacts on individual satisfaction with objective and intrinsic aspects of the job, in particular. Findings The empirical results show that, for millennial workers, there is a positive link between employee involvement and job satisfaction. Moreover, there is a higher positive impact on job satisfaction when millennial workers participate in decisions on general aspects of the company than when they participate in specific decisions such as those concerning teamwork or main tasks at work. Another interesting result is that millennial workers attach high importance to intrinsic aspects of their jobs (such as the possibility to use their knowledge in the work), which may improve their satisfaction in a higher participative environment. Research limitations/implications The results can present bias due to the use of self-report data from millennial workers. Another potential limitation is the cross-sectional nature of the data, which does not control for unobserved individual effects. The study may be extended to other developing countries to help identify results more precisely for different contexts. Originality/value The value lies in exploring the relationship between employee involvement and job satisfaction for millennial workers in the context of a developing country. The paper simultaneously considers different types of employee involvement and estimates their effects on different facets of job satisfaction.

Why the availability of telecommuting matters

2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 200-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aline D. Masuda ◽  
Claudia Holtschlag ◽  
Jessica M. Nicklin
Keyword(s):  
Employee Engagement ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Conservation Of Resources ◽  
Multiple Mediation ◽  
Goal Progress ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Explanatory Variables ◽  
Three Phase ◽  
Report Data ◽  
Self Report Data

Purpose In line with conservation of resources theory and signaling theory, the purpose of this paper is to conceptualize and test a multiple mediation model in which telecommuting affects engagement via perceived supervisor goal support and goal progress. Design/methodology/approach A three-phase longitudinal study carried out over ten months was used to test the hypotheses. Findings Individuals who worked in organizations that offer telecommuting were more engaged than those who worked in organizations that did not offer telecommuting. Furthermore, telecommuting availability was not only directly but also indirectly related to engagement via perceived supervisor goal support and goal progress. Engagement in general decreased over time. However, individuals who attained their personal work goals were able to maintain high levels of engagement. Research limitations/implications Giving employees the option to telecommute could increase employee engagement. This study is correlational in nature and relied on self-report data. Originality/value This is the first study examining the effects of telecommuting on engagement over a period of ten months. It is also the first study to use perceived supervisor goal support and goal progress as explanatory variables to the teleworking and engagement relationship.

Faculty–student coauthorship as a means to enhance STEM graduate students’ research skills

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 178-191 ◽  
Author(s):  
David F. Feldon ◽  
Kathan D. Shukla ◽  
Michelle Anne Maher
Keyword(s):  
Graduate Students ◽  
Graduate Student ◽  
Graduate Training ◽  
Student Writing ◽  
Research Skills ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
Faculty Mentors ◽  
Academic Year

Purpose This study aims to examine the contribution of faculty–student coauthorship to the development of graduate students’ research skills in the sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) by quantitatively assessing rubric-measured research skill gains over the course of an academic year compared to students who did not report participating in coauthorship with faculty mentors. Design/methodology/approach A quasi-experimental mixed methods approach was used to test the hypothesis that the influence of STEM graduate students’ mentored writing mentorship experiences would be associated with differential improvement in the development of their research skills over the course of an academic year. Findings The results indicate that students who co-authored with faculty mentors were likely to develop significantly higher levels of research skills than students who did not. In addition, less than half of the participants reported having such experiences, suggesting that increased emphasis on this practice amongst faculty could enhance graduate student learning outcomes. Originality/value Qualitative studies of graduate student writing experiences have alluded to outcomes that transcend writing quality per se and speak directly to the research skills acquired by the students as part of their graduate training. However, no study to date has captured the discrete effects of writing experiences on these skills in a quantifiable way.

The meaning of work for Italian school principals

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
School Leadership ◽  
School Principals ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Meaning Of Work ◽  
Role Clarity ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Italian School ◽  
Self Report Data ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose Firstly, to verify whether and how school principals' meaning of work is associated with personal, organizational and relational aspects of work. Secondly, to verify whether the organizational and relational factors mentioned incrementally predict the meaning of work, when compared with the effect of personal dimensions. Design/methodology/approach Self-report data was collected using a questionnaire adapted to the cultural and work setting of Italian school principals. The data was analyzed using hierarchical multiple regression. Findings The results showed the meaning of work correlated positively [moderately] with all of the predictors considered in the study. Job satisfaction and self-efficacy explained 21% of the variance in the meaning of work. A further 24% of the variance was explained by role clarity, possibilities for development and sense of belonging to the workplace. Finally, positive feedback from colleagues did not explain an incremental variance of the meaning of work. Research limitations/implications The authors note the following limitations of the research: firstly, the cross-sectional design does not allow the inference of causal links among the variables; secondly, because of the use of a self-report questionnaire, non-significant effects such as relationships at work are not explained as they would likely to be by cross-informant approaches. Practical implications The practical implications are the occupation-specific approach to the study of the meaning of work and the need to focus on different roles within the same types of occupation. The more we can understand how principals perceive and value their work, the more effectively training for school leadership can be tailored to the role this entails. Originality/value This study has originality and value in that it investigates an area that has previously been under-researched.

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