Harold D. Whiteside

Quality Circle Productivity as Related to Upper-Management Attendance, Circle Initiation, and Collar Color

The productivity of 47 quality circles (QCs) over a 3-year period was examined using the archival data of a QC program. The dependent variables were the quantity of QC presentations and the speed of problem solving. These two dependent variables were examined as related to upper-management attendance (high vs. low), QC initiation (management-initiated vs. self-initiated), and collar color (white vs. blue) in a 2 x 2 x 2 MANOVA. The results showed that QCs with a high level of upper-management attendance solved their problems significantly faster than did those QCs with a low level of attendance. Management-initiated QCs solved their problems significantly faster and solved more problems than did self-initiated QCs. Self-initiated QCs with a low level of upper-management attendance had a slower speed ofproblem solving. Further, self-initiated QCs with white-collar workers also had a slower speed of problem solving.

Money ethic endorsement, self‐reported income, and life satisfaction

This research examines the money ethic scale (budget, evil, equity, success, and motivator), self‐reported income, demographic variables, and life satisfaction among 207 professors in the USA and 102 professors in Spain. Results suggested that the female/male income ratio was 70.95 percent for American professors and 63.82 percent for Spanish professors. American faculty reported higher scores on factors budget, equity, and success, and lower scores on factor evil than their Spanish counterparts. Sex (male), factors budget, education, and work experience were predictors of American professors’ income, while work experience, sex (male), education, and factor motivator were predictors of Spanish professors’ income. For the American sample, marital status (married), factors budget, sex (male), a low level of education, and a low level of factor success were predictors of life satisfaction, whereas for the Spanish sample, marital status (married), young age, and factor budget were predictors of life satisfact...

The Case of Active and Inactive Quality Circles

Active and inactive quality circles (QCs; small groups of employees that solve organizational problems) were studied during the first 3 months (Times 1, 2, and 3) and the last 3 months (Times 4, 5, and 6) of their existence. The results indicated that both active and inactive QCs tended to have more members during the first 3 months than during the last 3 months. Membership in inactive QCs decreased significantly from Time 5 to Time 6, in contrast to membership in active QCs, which did not change during this period, and active QCs tended to have more members than inactive QCs did at Time 6. Thus, a significant decrease in QC membership may forecast disbandment.

The "Peripheral Cue Shift" Phenomenon Influence of Facial Expression and Level of Commission on Attribution of Responsibility

A total of 54 subjects read scenarios of a behavioral act and observed pictures of actors. The scenarios differed in levels of commission; that is, the degree to which an act was considered purposive, careless, or justified. Pictures showed the actors expressing emotions of anger, happiness, or sadness. Facial expressions were paired with scenarios to form a 3 x 3 Latin Square design with replications. Results revealed that both facial expression and level of commission affected attributions of responsibility. Facial expressions influenced attributions only on just if ed and careless commission, suggesting that when amgibuity exists concerning an actors feelings about his or her actions, facial expression can provide clues guiding attributions. These results are interpreted as reflecting a tendency to use directly relevant cues when available, but to use more peripheral cues when such cues are lacking.

A Study of Pacing Rate and Course Evaluations in a PSI Social Psychology Course

Motivational rather than academic factors appear to be significant in the determination of grades in this PSI course.

Attitude similarity and evaluation of an athletic team

This study extends the effect of attitude similarity or dissimilarity upon the evaluation of others to the athletic arena. Thirty-eight male high school varsity basketball athletes rated a hypothetical attitudinally similar college team more positively than an attitudinally dissimilar hypothetical college team on five of nine dependent measures. Implications arise concerning the recruiting and counseling of athletes with respect to the maintenance of team cooperation and morale.

Trick or treat: A field study of social class differences in altruism

Previous research has demonstrated social class differences in altruism; specifically, middle-class members are more sensitive to reciprocity norms than lower-class members. The present study investigated social class differences in altruism in a situation in which reciprocity norms were not particularly salient. Children trick or treated and received candy from 63 houses representing upper-, middle-, and lower-middle-class neighborhoods. Candy from each house was rated for subjective quality; results revealed that quality of candy was not related to social class. Contrary to studies of altruism in other settmgs, the relative cost of giving had no effect. This suggests that cost factors may not be related to altruism in all conditions.