The Saying and the Doing in research on WOP

Abstract

Research on Work and Organizational Psychology -WOP -tends to investigate its phenomena based on what is said, either through surveys or interviews. To what extent do we perceive the complexity of the area's constructs exclusively based on Saying? What explains such predominance? Such questions guided this theoretical essay, which is based on an analysis of the characteristics of the scientific production on some classic themes in organizational behavior. We conclude that the predominance of the comprehension of phenomena based on the subjects' accounts is due to both the ontological characteristics of its object and to operational considerations in the conduct of research. It would be appropriate, however, to explore the operational permeability of the object more closely and consider epistemological changes that strengthen the results obtained from analyses based on different perspectives. As an example, case studies are mentioned, as well as studies combining interviews and observations. O Dizer e o Fazer nas pesquisas em POT ResumoAs pesquisas em Psicologia Organizacional e do Trabalho -POT tendem a apreender seus fenômenos a partir do que é dito, seja por meio de surveys ou de entrevistas. Até que ponto, exclusivamente a partir da fala damos conta da complexidade dos construtos da área? O que explica tal predomínio? Tais questões guiaram o presente ensaio teórico que se apoia na análise das características da produção científica de alguns temas clássicos em Comportamento Organizacional. Conclui-se que o predomínio da apreensão dos fenômenos a partir de relatos dos sujeitos deve-se tanto a características ontológicas do seu objeto de estudo, quanto a razões operacionais na condução das pesquisas. Contudo, seria oportuno explorar mais atentamente a permeabilidade operativa do objeto e considerar variações epistemológicas que fortaleçam os resultados obtidos com análises em diferentes perspectivas. Como exemplo são mencionados os estudos de casos, e estudos que reúnam entrevistas e observações. El Decir y el Hacer en las investigaciones en POT ResumenLas investigaciones en Psicología Organizacional y del Trabajo -POT, tienden a captar sus fenómenos a partir de lo que es dicho, sea por medio de surveys o de entrevistas. ¿Hasta qué punto, exclusivamente a partir del habla, podemos manejar la complejidad de los constructos del área? ¿Cómo se explica tal predominio? Tales preguntas guiaron este ensayo teórico, basado en un análisis de las características de la producción científica de algunos temas clásicos en comportamiento organizacional. Se concluye que el predominio de la comprensión de los fenómenos en POT, a partir de los relatos de los sujetos, se debe tanto a las características ontológicas del objeto de estudio de la Psicología, como a las razones operacionales en la conducción de las investigaciones. Sin embargo, sería conveniente explorar más de cerca la permeabilidad del funcionamiento del objeto y considerar los cambios epistemológicos que fortalecen los resultados obtenidos de los análisis de...

Measures in organizational behavior: why don’t we use big data and analytics?

“…Further, scales favor generalizability, but they may lack precision and realism. They are subjected to the reliability problems, highlighted by Schwartz and Oyserman (2001), and validity problems, as they are based solely on what the individual says (Mourão et al, 2016). Several constructs, despite being investigated in various contexts, are not necessarily true to reality.…”

“…Only 12.4% of Brazilian studies reported behavior observation as a method, and most observations are also focused on what the individual says, despite the claim to consider what people do. Thus, they do not incorporate fundamental elements to appropriately understand the phenomenon (Mourão, Bastos, Passos, & Oliveira, 2016). Studies on performance, commitment, and organizational citizenship refer directly to organizational behaviors, but these aspects are investigated almost exclusively by what individuals say, as indicated by Mourão et al (2016).…”

“…To understand OB constructs, considering their inherent complexity and the difficulty to categorize them in a validly and reliably manner, a triangulation of methods is required where different ways of investigating "doing" and "saying" should be employed to ensure that the information is used together. Studies should focus less on responses based only on "saying" and seek ways to access "doing", suggested Mourão et al (2016). Consequently, this aspect would probably involve direct observations of behaviors.…”

“…The fourth difficulty is that data consistency is rarely achieved, as observers need to be well trained. Finally, some organizational context variables cannot be controlled, thus leading to low reproducibility (Mourão et al, 2016). Observation methods were almost entirely replaced by surveys in the behavior axis and are used in an unsystematic manner in the other two axes to support the investigation of the individual's context.…”

Empirical studies in WOP in Brazil: A paradigmatic analysis

“…The first blended different research traditions and their relevance in the area, such that learning represents a theme with a long tradition in WOP research in Brazil (Loiola & Bastos, 2003), organizational citizenship and justice represent more recent and prominent themes in national and international discussions in WOP (Palazolli, 2000;Rego, 2002;Rego, 2014;Siqueira, 2003;Tamayo et al, 2012), and socialization represents a topic that had a large increase in publications in the last decade (Borges & Albuquerque, 2014). These themes are among the fifteen most investigated in WOP in Brazil, with a total of more than 500 published articles (Mourão, Bastos, & Oliveira, 2016). The theme of learning at work was the most researched, followed by commitment, while the organizational citizenship theme occupied last place.…”