Showing papers in "Journal of Applied Psychology in 1972"

A study of job characteristics and job dimensions as based on the Position Analysis Questionnaire (PAQ).

Abstract: : It was hypothesized that, across the spectrum of jobs, there is some underlying 'structure' of human work in terms of the human behaviors involved. The project was directed toward the identification of behaviorial job elements and of their organization into job dimensions, and the exploration of certain possible practical applications of job data based on such job elements or dimensions. The project involved the development of a job analysis instrument called the Position Analysis Questionnaires (PAQ) that included 189 job elements of a worker-oriented nature. Principal components analysis procedures were used in the analyses of two types of data based on the PAQ. One set consisted of job data for 536 jobs that were analyzed with the PAQ. The other consisted of 'attribute profiles' of the job elements; (These consisted of median ratings of the relevance of 67 human attributes to each job element). (Author)

Is there an optimal number of alternatives for Likert-scale items? Effects of testing time and scale properties.

Abstract: Three criteria one might use to determine the number of Likert scale rating steps to employ are proportion of scale used, testing time, and usage of an \"uncertain\" category. A modified version of the Florida Scale of Civic Beliefs (Shaw & Wright, 1967, pp. 307-311), in which the number of alternatives for each item ranged from 2 to 19, was administered to 360 Ss. Results of these manipulations indicated that for cumulative scores from Likert-type items, proportion of scale used was independent of the number of scale points, while mean testing time increased and usage of the \"uncertain\" category decreased as the number of rating steps increased. These results are integrated with earlier findings, and implications for Likert-scale construction are described.

Effectiveness of pay incentives under variable ratio and continuous reinforcement schedules.

Abstract: The effectiveness of pay incentives under variable ratio and continuous reinforcement schedules was investigated in a simulated job situation. Fifteen 5s worked under three-pay incentive conditions, and production for the three groups was compared in order to test hypotheses derived from instrumentality theory and the operant conditioning literature. The results failed to support instrumentality theory. Pay incentives were more effective in motivating increased production when used with a variable ratio schedule than when used with a continuous reinforcement schedule.

An Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the Culture Assimilator in Thailand and Greece.

Abstract: : American military and civilian advisors in Thailand and Greece were given culture training in the form of either the Thai or Greek Culture Assimilator. These groups were compared to similar groups of men who received a series of essays (Thailand) or no training at all (Greece). Background information as well as information on the subject's impression of his performance and adjustment in the foreign country was collected. The questions on this latter questionnaire constituted the main dependent measure. Assimilator-trained individuals felt that they were generally more productive and had somewhat better interpersonal relations with the Thais than did essay-trained subjects. The Assimilator was also seen as somewhat more interesting and helpful than was the essay. These results were replicated for Assimilator-trained subjects in Greece when their ratings were compared to subjects who received no training. These results were taken as an indication that the Culture Assimilator could serve a valuable function as a culture training device for Americans stationed abroad. (Author)

Effects of caffeine on visual monitoring

Abstract: THIS STUDY EXAMINED THE EFFECTS OF CAFFEINE ON A PROTRACTED VISUAL MONITORING TASK ANALOGOUS TO AN ASPECT OF AUTOMOBILE NIGHT DRIVING. THE TASK INVOLVED MONITORING TWO READ LIGHTS THAT MOVED APART AT RANDOM INTERVALS. THIS DISPLAY SIMULATED THE RATE-OF-CLOSURE CUE OF CHANGE IN VISUAL ANGLE FOR A VEHICLE FOLLOWING 60 YARDS BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE. TWENTY MEASURES OF RESPONSE LATENCY WERE PROVIDED FOR EACH S IN EACH OF FOUR HOURS OF CONTINUOUS TESTING. FIVE GROUPS (N=20 IN EACH) WERE GIVEN THE FOLLOWING TREATMENTS: PLACEBO, 200 MG. OF CAFFEINE AT THE BEGINNING AT THE SECOND HOUR; 200 MG. AT THE THIRD HOUR; 400 MG. AT THE SECOND, AND 400 MG. AT THE THIRD. THE RESULTS INDICATED THAT CAFFEINE SIFNIFICANTLY INHIBITED RESPONSE BLOCKING (ATTENTION LAPSES). THE EFFECTS WERE APPARENT WITHIN ONE HOUR FOLLOWING ADMINISTRATION AND PERSISTED OVER THE REMAINING HOURS. NO DIFFERENCE WAS FOUND BETWEEN DOSAGE LEVELS OR IN MAGNITUDE OF EFFECT AT THE DIFFERENT ADMINISTRATION TIMES. /AUTHOR/