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  • 1.  Measuring Attributions in Surveys?

    Posted 10-09-2008 15:24
    Does anyone know of studies that have looked at causal attributions using
    a field sample survey method?

    I am conducting a study on coworker mistreatment and would like to
    investigate the influence of causal attributions (specifically whether one
    attributes their mistreatment to something within their assailants, within
    themselves, or within the environment or situation).

    We are surveying a field sample from the general population (e.g. asking
    people to self-report how often they are mistreated at work) and I am
    unsure of the best way to measure causal attributions in such a general
    context. I can find several studies looking at attributions in lab,
    critical incident or scenario studies, but so far none in survey field
    samples (I have mainly been looking within the aggression/mistreatment
    literature).

    Studies pertaining to attributions of aggression or mistreatment would be
    most relevant but any leads in other areas of research that I may be able
    to build off of would be greatly appreciated.

    Thank you very much for any help you can provide.

    Regards,
    -Jane





    Jane O’Reilly
    PhD Student, Organizational Behaviour
    The University of British Columbia


  • 2.  Measuring Attributions in Surveys?

    Posted 10-09-2008 22:32
    Hi Jane,

    I don't have a specific citation for you on attributions of mistreatment
    in field settings, but I do recommend the article below. Anderson makes
    the point that we as researchers too often impose an attributional
    structure on individuals (e.g., self, other, situation). He then
    recommends several steps for capturing causal attributions more
    authentically, so to speak. It starts with open-ended questions,
    followed by a coding or sorting process which can be analyzed with
    scaling or cluster analysis. You may get the structure you assume, but
    you may find something else. Given that you are studying a novel
    attributional topic, the qualitative responses you get may be great for
    theory building, not just theory testing.

    So, not directly helpful, but perhaps indirectly. Best,

    Al

    Anderson, C. A. 1983. The causal structure of situations: The generation
    of plausible causal attributions as a function of type of event
    situation. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 19: 185-203.


    Jane O'Reilly wrote:
    > Does anyone know of studies that have looked at causal attributions using
    > a field sample survey method?
    >
    > I am conducting a study on coworker mistreatment and would like to
    > investigate the influence of causal attributions (specifically whether one
    > attributes their mistreatment to something within their assailants, within
    > themselves, or within the environment or situation).
    >
    > We are surveying a field sample from the general population (e.g. asking
    > people to self-report how often they are mistreated at work) and I am
    > unsure of the best way to measure causal attributions in such a general
    > context. I can find several studies looking at attributions in lab,
    > critical incident or scenario studies, but so far none in survey field
    > samples (I have mainly been looking within the aggression/mistreatment
    > literature).
    >
    > Studies pertaining to attributions of aggression or mistreatment would be
    > most relevant but any leads in other areas of research that I may be able
    > to build off of would be greatly appreciated.
    >
    > Thank you very much for any help you can provide.
    >
    > Regards,
    > -Jane
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > Jane O’Reilly
    > PhD Student, Organizational Behaviour
    > The University of British Columbia
    >

    --
    Albert E. Mannes
    PhD Candidate, Management & Organizations
    Duke University: Fuqua School of Business
    Box 90120
    Durham, NC 27708-0120 USA
    Mobile: (919) 452-9068
    Email: aem15@duke.edu


  • 3.  Measuring Attributions in Surveys?

    Posted 10-10-2008 03:10
    Dear Jane,

    You might want to have a look at the 'locus of control' literature.

    Best,
    Dennis.


    On Thu, 9 Oct 2008 15:23:47 -0400
    "Jane O'Reilly" <oreilly.jane@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
    > Does anyone know of studies that have looked at causal attributions
    >using
    > a field sample survey method?
    >
    > I am conducting a study on coworker mistreatment and would like to
    > investigate the influence of causal attributions (specifically
    >whether one
    > attributes their mistreatment to something within their assailants,
    >within
    > themselves, or within the environment or situation).
    >
    > We are surveying a field sample from the general population (e.g.
    >asking
    > people to self-report how often they are mistreated at work) and I
    >am
    > unsure of the best way to measure causal attributions in such a
    >general
    > context. I can find several studies looking at attributions in lab,
    > critical incident or scenario studies, but so far none in survey
    >field
    > samples (I have mainly been looking within the
    >aggression/mistreatment
    > literature).
    >
    > Studies pertaining to attributions of aggression or mistreatment
    >would be
    > most relevant but any leads in other areas of research that I may be
    >able
    > to build off of would be greatly appreciated.
    >
    > Thank you very much for any help you can provide.
    >
    > Regards,
    > -Jane
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > Jane O’Reilly
    > PhD Student, Organizational Behaviour
    > The University of British Columbia


  • 4.  Measuring Attributions in Surveys?

    Posted 10-10-2008 14:14
    Jane,
    A good example can be found in the following mixed-method field study:
    * Campbell, Constance R. and Martinko, Mark J. (1998). An integrative attributional perspective of empowerment and learned helplessness: a multimethod field study. Journal of Management, 24(2), 173-200.

    Although scholars sometimes evaluate attributions in field studies, most of the recent work has focused on attribution styles, which are relatively stable and exhibit better internal consistency than attributions alone. As an example, see:
    * Martinko, M. J., Moss, S. E., and Douglas, S. C., & Borkowski, N. (2007). Anticipating the Inevitable: When Leader and Member Attribution Styles Clash. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes.104 (2), 158-174.

    Finally, you may want to contact Mark Martinko (mmartin@cob.fsu.edu) for a recent syllabus from his attribution theory seminar. It has the seminal pieces that will get you up to speed quickly, especially for counter-productive or deviant workplace behavior.

    Best of luck,

    Tim Munyon 

    -----
    Timothy P. Munyon
    Ph.D. Candidate, Management
    Florida State University
    821 Academic Way
    Tallahassee, FL 32306
    (850) 556-8506
    tmunyon@fsu.edu


    ----- Original Message -----
    From: Jane O'Reilly 
    Date: Thursday, October 9, 2008 10:00 pm
    Subject: Measuring Attributions in Surveys?
    To: OB@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU

    > Does anyone know of studies that have looked at causal
    > attributions using
    > a field sample survey method?
    >
    > I am conducting a study on coworker mistreatment and would like to
    > investigate the influence of causal attributions (specifically
    > whether one
    > attributes their mistreatment to something within their
    > assailants, within
    > themselves, or within the environment or situation).
    >
    > We are surveying a field sample from the general population (e.g.
    > asking
    > people to self-report how often they are mistreated at work) and I
    > am
    > unsure of the best way to measure causal attributions in such a
    > general
    > context. I can find several studies looking at attributions in
    > lab,
    > critical incident or scenario studies, but so far none in survey
    > field
    > samples (I have mainly been looking within the
    > aggression/mistreatment 
    > literature).
    >
    > Studies pertaining to attributions of aggression or mistreatment
    > would be
    > most relevant but any leads in other areas of research that I may
    > be able
    > to build off of would be greatly appreciated.
    >
    > Thank you very much for any help you can provide.
    >
    > Regards,
    > -Jane
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > Jane O'Reilly
    > PhD Student, Organizational Behaviour
    > The University of British Columbia
    >


  • 5.  Measuring Attributions in Surveys?

    Posted 10-12-2008 14:11
    Jane:

    A paper and pencil measure of attributions has been developed and
    validated by:

    McAuley, E., Duncan, T. E., & Russell, D. W. (1992). Measuring causal
    attributions: The Revised Causal Dimension Scale (CDSII). Personality
    & Social Psychology Bulletin, 18, 566-573.

    Best of luck with your research,

    Alison

    Alison M. Konrad
    Professor of Organizational Behavior
    Corus Entertainment Chair in Women in Management
    Richard Ivey School of Business
    U. of Western Ontario
    1151 Richmond Street North
    London, Ontario, Canada N6A 3K7
    (519) 661-3215
    akonrad@ivey.uwo.ca
    -----Original Message-----
    From: Organizational Behavior Division Listserv
    [mailto:OB@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU] On Behalf Of Jane O'Reilly
    Sent: Thursday, October 09, 2008 3:24 PM
    To: OB@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
    Subject: Measuring Attributions in Surveys?

    Does anyone know of studies that have looked at causal attributions
    using
    a field sample survey method?

    I am conducting a study on coworker mistreatment and would like to
    investigate the influence of causal attributions (specifically whether
    one
    attributes their mistreatment to something within their assailants,
    within
    themselves, or within the environment or situation).

    We are surveying a field sample from the general population (e.g. asking

    people to self-report how often they are mistreated at work) and I am
    unsure of the best way to measure causal attributions in such a general
    context. I can find several studies looking at attributions in lab,
    critical incident or scenario studies, but so far none in survey field
    samples (I have mainly been looking within the aggression/mistreatment
    literature).

    Studies pertaining to attributions of aggression or mistreatment would
    be
    most relevant but any leads in other areas of research that I may be
    able
    to build off of would be greatly appreciated.

    Thank you very much for any help you can provide.

    Regards,
    -Jane





    Jane O'Reilly
    PhD Student, Organizational Behaviour
    The University of British Columbia