Marie Waung

The Effects of Conscientiousness and Opportunity to Caucus on Group Performance

Given the increasing use of work teams in organizations, personnel selection procedures based on individual conscientiousness are likely to result in groups composed of highly conscientious members. This laboratory experiment examined the performance of groups of either high or low conscientious individuals, with the groups being given more (caucus condition) or less (no caucus condition) opportunity to develop performance norms. Groups of high-conscientious individuals given the chance to caucus were less productive than such groups that were not given the opportunity to caucus and less productive than groups of low-conscientious individuals given the chance to caucus. Thesefindings are explained in terms of the development of quality norms by the high-conscientious caucus groups at the expense of productivity.

Gender Differences in Verbal Presumptuousness and Attentiveness

Mens and womens verbal presumptuousness and attentiveness were measured by verbal response mode coding of laboratory conversations in five studies. The data were used to assess implications of two common assumptions about gender roles in American society: that womens status is viewed as lower than mens and that women tend to be oriented toward maintaining relationships, whereas men tend to be oriented toward hierarchy, mastery, and control Comparisons failed to show the expected greater presumptuousness by men, despite evidence that presumptuousness was closely regulated within dyads. In these conversations, women were more attentive than men under some conditions, particularly within committed relationships (married or dating couples).

Communicating Negative Hire Decisions to Applicants: Fulfilling Psychological Contracts

This study demonstrates that characteristics of rejection letters combine in a complex manner to affect impressions of the organization, and likelihood of re-applying to and of patronizing the organization. Specifically, the most negative reactions to rejection letters were found when a contact person existed, along with a long time interval before receiving a letter that failed to include an explicit statement of rejection. Some support was found for the failure to receive a rejection letter as a psychological contract violation.

Self‐Promotion Statements in Video Resumes: Frequency, Intensity, and Gender Effects on Job Applicant Evaluation

Although video resumes have received a substantial amount of media attention and there seems to be a growing awareness among Human Resource professionals of video‐based job applications, little is known about the effect of video resumes on applicant evaluation. This research investigates the effectiveness of self‐promotion within the context of video resumes. Self‐promotion frequency and intensity and applicant gender were manipulated. Ratings by recruiters and college students indicate that high levels of self‐promotion in video resumes are ineffective for male applicants and potentially detrimental for female applicants. Job applicants should use caution when attempting to promote themselves using video resumes. More research is needed on impression management tactics used at the earliest stages of selection and on the mechanisms operating within video resumes that impact applicant evaluation.

The Effects of Video and Paper Resumes on Assessments of Personality, Applied Social Skills, Mental Capability, and Resume Outcomes

In this laboratory experiment we examined the effect of resume format (paper resume only, video resume only, or both) on applicant evaluation. Differences in applicant personality trait evaluation were found for extraversion and agreeableness when video resumes were reviewed compared to when only paper resumes were reviewed. In addition, social skill and mental capability ratings were lower when only video resumes were reviewed. These findings indicate that video resumes may result in different assessments of applicant personality and harsher evaluations of applicant skills and abilities than paper resumes. Human resource personnel are cautioned in the use of video resumes until more research has been completed.

Individual and Familial Variables for Predicting Successful Completion of a Juvenile Justice Diversion Program

A key variable in the success of a juvenile justice diversion program (i.e., avoiding reoffending) is completing the program. Little is known about which variables predict successful completion. The present study examined demographics; behavioral histories; current behaviors; and family, school, and social issues among participants drawn from a metropolitan Detroit diversion program. Logistic regression analyses identified variables predictive of program completion. Key predictors included race, aggressive behavior, previous counseling or treatment, poor academic performance, diagnosed with ADD/ADHD, and parental reports of not contributing to household chores. Recommendations for modifying diversion programs based on these findings are offered.

Billboard Hot 100 Songs: Self-Promoting Over the Past 20 Years.

Research suggests that an increase in narcissism and individualism in contemporary Western society corresponds with greater self-focus depicted in cultural products (Morling & Lamoreaux, 2008). However, little attention has been given to popular music within this context (DeWall, Pond, Campbell, & Twenge, 2011). The current study examines changes in self-promotion (e.g., references to self, bragging, demands for respect), and the sociodemographic characteristics of both artists and audiences as they relate to self-promoting tendencies in popular music. Data were obtained using Billboard Hot 100 songs for the years 1990, 2000, and 2010. The most popular music in 2010 contained significantly more types of self-promotion than music from previous decades. This change reflects characteristics of genres (e.g., rap/hip-hop, pop, dance) that have gained popularity among younger audiences, but also corresponds to larger societal changes in individualism. Songs by male artists and African American artists were more likely to contain self-promotion than those by female or Caucasian artists. These differences are considered within the context of past theory and research related to socialization across groups more generally. Implications for parents, educators, and consumers are discussed.