Extraversion and job performance: How context relevance and bandwidth specificity create a non-linear,positive, and asymptotic relationship

The personality factor of extraversion has been associated with performance in some occupations (e.g., sales), and it has been one of the most consistent personality predictors of leadership. Recent research indicates that extraversion could have a non-linear relation with performance. At the same time, many researchers have contended that scholars should utilize measures of personality narrower than factors and that the bandwidth and relevance of personality should fit both the criterion and the context of a study. We argue and find that by examining an aspect of extraversion (i.e., social potency) in a particular vocational context (i.e., enterprising job demands), non-linear, asymptotic (diminishing marginal benefits) effects will be demonstrated on a relevant type of performance (i.e., enterprising job performance). We review implications, limitations, and avenues for future research.     

Qualitative elements of early motor development that influence reaching of the erect posture. A prospective cohort study

The proposed assessment sheet aims to show in detail, which qualitative elements of motor performance are performed correctly in the 2nd month of life by children who in the 9th month reached the erect posture. Similar analysis was performed for the qualitative assessment in the 6th month. The prospective investigation of motor development involved a group of 109 children (40 girls and 69 boys). The study was based on the previously described quantity and quality assessment sheet of motor performance, validated for the 2nd and 6th month. Final investigation took place in the 9th month of life and was based on a neurological assessment.It could be shown that a completely correct assessment at the age of 2 months precludes future severe motor development disorders, especially cerebral palsy, although it does not rule out a slight delay. Prematurity and the analyzed risk factors, particularly IVH, impair the motor performance. The absence of axial symmetry, the shoulders protraction and improper position of the pelvis are the most important alarming features at the 2nd month. Distal elements observed in the prone position at the 6th month show a good prognosis for the motor performance in the 9th month. Any abnormalities, mainly related to the body axis and symmetry observed at 2 months of age should encourage one to put a child under observation.     

Constrained paths based on the Farey sequence in learning to juggle

In this article we report the results of a study conducted to investigate the learning dynamics of three-ball juggling from the perspective of frequency locking. Based on the Farey sequence, we predicted that four stable coordination patterns, corresponding to dwell ratios of 0.83, 0.75, 0.67, and 0.50, would appear in the learning process. We examined the learning process in terms of task performance, taking into account individual differences in the amount of learning. We observed that the participants acquired individual-specific coordination patterns in a relatively early stage of learning, and that those coordination patterns were preserved in subsequent learning, even though performance in terms of number of successful consecutive throws increased substantially. This increase appeared to be related to a reduction in spatial variability of the juggling movements. Finally, the observed coordination patterns were in agreement with the predicted patterns, with the proviso that the pattern corresponding to a dwell ratio of 0.50 was not realized and only a hint of evidence was found for the dwell ratio of 0.67. This implies that the dwell ratios of 0.83 and 0.75 in particular exhibited a stable coordination structure due to strong frequency locking between the temporal variables of juggling.     

Does job crafting assist dealing with organizational changes due to austerity measures? Two studies among Greek employees

In this paper, we focussed on Greek employees that are heavily affected by austerity-led organizational changes, and studied whether job crafting (defined as seeking resources, seeking challenges, reducing demands) helps them deal with these changes. In the first, cross-sectional study we examined whether job crafting relates to adaptive performance, and whether individuals’ assessment of changes moderates this relationship. The results showed that the relationship between reducing demands and adaptive performance was positive for those assessing the changes more positively, and negative for those assessing them more negatively. This interaction was replicated in the second, quasi-experimental field study, where we examined the effects of an intervention designed to help employees deal with organizational changes and increase their well-being, adaptive performance and openness to such changes by stimulating job crafting behaviours. Participants received training and worked for 3 weeks on self-set job crafting goals. The intervention was effective in increasing reducing demands, positive affect and openness to change. Moreover, it had a positive effect on openness to change and adaptive performance through positive effect, but a negative effect on adaptive performance through reducing demands. Thus, the intervention facilitated to some extent employee functioning under unfavourable working conditions that result from austerity measures.     

自我损耗对工作场所安全的影响及缓解途径

员工安全行为是工作场所安全的重要保障,而自我控制资源损耗会对安全行为产生负面影响。研究拟借鉴自我控制资源有限模型,结合行为和生理指标,探讨工作要求和辱虐管理通过损耗个体自我控制资源对安全行为的影响,并从特质自我控制和自动化安全趋近倾向两个角度探索上述效应的缓解机制。此外,研究拟采用心率变异性作为自我损耗的生理测量。研究有助于从自我控制资源的角度理解员工不安全行为的影响因素、发生机制和缓解方法。     

幼儿教师心理资本、职业压力与工作绩效:应对方式的中介作用

为探索幼儿教师心理资本、职业压力和应对方式对工作绩效的影响,选取成渝两地幼儿教师共328名,用教师心理资本问卷(TPCQ)、幼儿教师工作压力源问卷(KTOSQ)、简易应对方式量表(SSWC)、教师工作绩效量表(TJPS)进行调查。结果表明:(1)控制学校性质、每月收入、教师教龄和年龄影响后,幼儿教师心理资本对工作绩效有显著积极影响,职业压力对工作绩效有显著消极影响。(2)幼儿教师积极应对部分中介心理资本对工作绩效的影响,消极应对部分中介职业压力对工作绩效的影响。以上研究结果对保护和提升幼儿教师工作绩效具有重要价值。     

室内照度对认知加工的影响:主观情绪和警觉性的中介作用

本研究采用单因素被试间设计,考察了白天室内照度(300 lx vs 1200 lx,眼位水平)对认知加工的影响及主观情绪和警觉性在照度水平与认知加工间的中介效应。结果发现:(1)被试在高照度照明条件下的认知加工绩效(Go/No-go,2-Back)明显好于低照度照明;(2)高照度照明对积极情绪和主观警觉性具有显著的正向影响;(3)警觉性在照度水平对Go/No-go任务的影响中起着完全中介作用,情绪的中介作用不显著。这表明警觉性在室内照度与部分认知加工间扮演着重要的"桥梁"作用。     

Psychological ethical climate,leader–member exchange and commitment to superior customer value: influencing salespeople’s unethical intent and sales performance

In today’s competitive environment, salespeople are challenged with creating customer value in an ethical manner while meeting performance goals. Sales supervisors play a critical role in ensuring that this challenge is met. This research examines the roles of psychological ethical climate and leader–member exchange (LMX) in encouraging salespeople’s commitment to providing superior customer value, reducing their unethical intentions and improving sales performance. Results indicate that business-to-business salespeople’s psychological ethical climate perceptions influence their perceived relationship with their sales supervisor (i.e. LMX relationship) as well as their commitment to providing superior customer value. LMX also directly influences commitment to providing superior customer value, which in turn affects salespeople’s unethical intent and quota performance. Theoretical and managerial implications based on the study’s findings are provided, as well as directions for future research.     

Study of behavioural and neural bases of visuo‐spatial working memory with an fMRI paradigm based on an n‐back task

The goal of this study was to propose a new functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) paradigm using a language‐free adaptation of a 2‐back working memory task to avoid cultural and educational bias. We additionally provide an index of the validity of the proposed paradigm and test whether the experimental task discriminates the behavioural performances of healthy participants from those of individuals with working memory deficits. Ten healthy participants and nine patients presenting working memory (WM) deficits due to acquired brain injury (ABI) performed the developed task. To inspect whether the paradigm activates brain areas typically involved in visual working memory (VWM), brain activation of the healthy participants was assessed with fMRIs. To examine the task's capacity to discriminate behavioural data, performances of the healthy participants in the task were compared with those of ABI patients. Data were analysed with GLM‐based random effects procedures and t‐tests. We found an increase of the BOLD signal in the specialized areas of VWM. Concerning behavioural performances, healthy participants showed the predicted pattern of more hits, less omissions and a tendency for fewer false alarms, more self‐corrected responses, and faster reaction times, when compared with subjects presenting WM impairments. The results suggest that this task activates brain areas involved in VWM and discriminates behavioural performances of clinical and non‐clinical groups. It can thus be used as a research methodology for behavioural and neuroimaging studies of VWM in block‐design paradigms.