James R. Van Scotter

Bio: James R. Van Scotter is an academic researcher from Louisiana State University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Job performance & Wrongdoing. The author has an hindex of 18, co-authored 34 publications receiving 4456 citations. Previous affiliations of James R. Van Scotter include Air Force Institute of Technology & University of Colorado Boulder.

The Impact of Communication Media Characteristics On Information Acquisition and Favorability of Attitudes Toward the Navy

Abstract: : This study investigated the impact of media characteristics on receiver's acquisition of recruiting information, the favorability of receiver's attitudes toward the Navy and joining the Navy. The study use a 4x2x2 experimental design which manipulated media (Face-to-face, video, audio only, and text modes), message content (objective and subjective), and length (1 minute and 3 minutes). After controlling for content, length, and receiver gender and experience, media characteristics associated with media richness and channel types accounted for significant portions of variance in perceived media characteristics, receiver outcomes including ambiguity credibility, comprehension, media satisfaction and judgments of communication effectiveness. These variables accounted for significant variance in attitudes toward the Navy, joining the Navy, intentions to join, and a behavioral measure. In general, richer media (i.e., media with greater channel capacity) were more effective for conveying emotionally oriented subjective messages. Results suggest media differ in ways that are important for communicating with potential applicants.

Differences in perceptions of web site characteristics by it experts and non-experts

Abstract: An important aspect of web site design involves anticipating and understanding consumer reactions to various web site attributes and using this information to make web sites more useful and satisfying for them. Unfortunately, IT professionals may not be well suited for this task. Through their training and employment experiences, IT professionals are likely to adopt perspectives and evaluation standards different from those used by consumers. As a result, they may lose touch with consumer wants and needs concerning web site design and content. This working paper examines differences in these two groups' perceptions of design features, website content, and convenience, and examines how their perceptions affect overall evaluations and satisfaction with web sites.

Management Issues in Police and Social Worker Alliances: Using the Lens of Occupational Culture

Abstract: Events, often involving members of minority groups, have caused members of the public to question the motives and methods of the police. In these events, police have either reacted to a misperceived threat or misunderstood the situation and responded incorrectly. To prevent future events, some observers have called for an alliance between police and social workers in responding to specific events within the community. Some cases may cause a need for resources that are not within the police domain. In the heat of the moment, determining the best way to deal with emotionally charged situations can require complex decision making. For instance, when police respond to reports of domestic violence, both parties may forget about their own differences and turn on the police. Negative experiences may cause police to respond based on previous experiences, rather than the current situation. This paper examines significant differences in the occupational cultures of social workers and police that may affect how the two units interact and respond to events. Our findings explicate the influence of cultural issues on the effectiveness of the proposed alliance. This paper does not discuss incidents where the groups are working well together, but only those where there may be occupational cultural differences that cause problems.

Knowledge-Related Barriers to Communication and Coordination in Disaster Response: Adelphi Study

Abstract: Multi-organizational ad hoc knowledge networks have the potential to improve the effectiveness of disaster response and recovery by helping organizations share information, coordinate their activities and leverage participants' expertise. This paper reports an exploratory study to identify the major barriers to effectiveness in ad hoc knowledge networks in disaster response. The research methodology is a multi-panel Delphi survey, with each panel comprised of experienced emergency response professionals from different types of response organizations (e.g., fire fighters, EOC (emergency operations center) directors, law enforcement professionals). The study is currently in progress, and results from the first two panels are reported.

The job satisfaction-job performance relationship: a qualitative and quantitative review.

Abstract: A qualitative and quantitative review of the relationship between job satisfaction and job performance is provided. The qualitative review is organized around 7 models that characterize past research on the relationship between job satisfaction and job performance. Although some models have received more support than have others, research has not provided conclusive confirmation or disconfirmation of any model, partly because of a lack of assimilation and integration in the literature. Research devoted to testing these models waned following 2 meta-analyses of the job satisfaction-job performance relationship. Because of limitations in these prior analyses and the misinterpretation of their findings, a new meta-analysis was conducted on 312 samples with a combined N of 54,417. The mean true correlation between overall job satisfaction and job performance was estimated to be .30. In light of these results and the qualitative review, an agenda for future research on the satisfaction-performance relationship is provided.

A meta-analytic review of attitudinal and dispositional predictors of organizational citizenship behavior

Abstract: A quantitative review of 55 studies supports the conclusion that job attitudes are robust predictors of organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). The relationship between job satisfaction and OCB is stronger than that between satisfaction and in-role performance, at least among nonmanagerial and nonprofessional groups. Other attitudinal measures (perceived fairness, organizational commitment, leader supportiveness) correlate with OCB at roughly the same level as satisfaction. Dispositional measures do not correlate nearly as well with OCB (with the exception of conscientiousness). The most notable moderator of these correlations appears to be the use of self- versus other-rating of OCB; self-ratings are associated with higher correlations, suggesting spurious inflation due to common method variance, and much greater variance in correlation. Differences in subject groups and work settings do not account for much variance in the relationships. Implications are noted for theory, practice, and strategies for future research on OCB.